Goals from Eamon Zayed and Danny Lafferty moved Derry City right back into the Airtricity League Premier Division title race as the Candystripes overcame Dundalk at Oriel Park on Saturday afternoon.
Dundalk came into the game on the back of just one league win since 1 July and their cause was not helped by the absence of seven first team regulars through injury and suspension.
They were on the back foot for most of the first half and it was the title chasers who opened the scoring after 13 minutes.
Lilywhites skipper Simon Madden made a great block to deny Kevin Deery in the six-yard box but the ball worked its way out to Derry City full-back Danny Lafferty and his pinpoint cross was headed home by Eamonn Zayed at the back post.
The Libya striker looked to have doubled the Candystripes lead 10 minutes later but both referee Neil Doyle and his assistant Terence Moyne adjudged his near post header from a Deery corner not to have crossed the line after Murphy had scrambled to palm the ball away from danger.
Dundalk struggled to get any sort of foothold in the game early on. However the home fans in attendance were given some encouragement when Keith Ward shot at Ger Doherty in the 27th minute.
It was Derry who controlled the proceedings though and Stephen Kenny's men should have gone 2-0 ahead just minutes later.
Lafferty's free-kick to the back was headed back across the face of goal by Patrick McEleney but Stephen McLaughlin just couldn't readjust his body and the ball flew over the bar.
The left winger, who enjoyed a good tussle with Madden on the day, then whistled a fierce effort just over Paul Murphy's bar after being set up by Patrick McEleney.
Dundalk's best bit of football came in a rare attack in the 35th minute. Jason Byrne, running the inside right channel, did well to hook the ball into Mark Quigley's path but the striker's attempt at a first time lob was dealt with by Doherty.
It was the visitors who finished the half strongly and Murphy had to make a good stop to deny Stewart Greacen after the centre-back had got just enough purchase on a Deery free-kick to glance the ball goalwards.
The home side upped their game considerably in the second-half and Gareth McGlynn had to make a last gasp block to deny the impressive Chris Reilly a debut goal in the 52nd minute.
Shane McEleney then got a crucial touch to take the ball off Jason Byrne's head three minutes later with the veteran hit-man ready to pounce on a Keith Ward free-kick.
Ian Foster's side held the upper hand at this stage and Stephen McDonnell – Dundalk's best player on the day - almost drew them level with a vicious swirling drive that Doherty had to push away at the last minute.
That seemed to wake Derry City from their second-half slumber and Murphy did well to push away Deery's stinging drive from 20-yards before Greacen wrapped his foot around an effort that crept just wide of the upright.
Stephen McLaughlin rattled the woodwork as the men from the Brandywell looked to put the result beyond doubt and Danny Lafferty made sure of the points when he nodded home in the 85th minute.
Dundalk: Paul Murphy; Simon Madden, Cian Byrne, Johnny Breen, Nathan Murphy; Chris Reilly (Bob McKenna 75), Keith Ward, Stephen McDonnell, Ross Gaynor (Conor McDonald 87); Mark Quigley, Jason Byrne.
Subs not used: Philip Duffy, Ben McLaughlin, Peter Cherrie (GK).
Derry City: Gerard Doherty; Barry Molloy, Stewart Greacen, Shane McEleney, Danny Lafferty; Gareth McGlynn, Kevin Deery, Ruaidhri Higgins, Stephen McLaughlin; Eamon Zayed, Patrick McEleney.
Subs not used: Emmet Friars, Ruairi Harkin, David McDaid, Thomas McGonigle, Mark Farren, Michael McCrudden, Eugene Ferry (GK).
Referee: Neil Doyle (Dublin).
