Shamrock Rovers moved clear of Derry into fourth position in the Premier Division thanks to a deceptively comfortable 2-0 win over Derry City at Tallaght Stadium.
The Hoops laboured in the first half but finally made the breakthrough on the stroke of half-time through Dan Carr, and Joel Coustrain added a second as Rovers made it three wins on the bounce.
Rovers began the post-Graham Burke era with a win following his transfer to Preston North End, while Canadian international Ben Fisk was the best of a bad Derry bunch on his debut.
Fisk was a bright spark for the Candystripes in the early stages as they took the game to the home side and looked particularly threatening from the new man's set-piece deliveries.
The Hoops gradually took control of the game, and Carr should have done better when he turned Conor McDermott in the box but dragged his shot past Gerard Doherty's post.
Moments later, a quick one-touch passing move involving Ronan Finn put Brandon Kavanagh in behind the defence. He tried to nick the ball past Doherty, but the keeper turned it behind.
Sam Bone had a long-range effort whistle past the post, while Carr was wasteful with a volley when Sean Kavanagh's cross was only half-cleared, as Rovers continued to knock on the door.
The Candystripes seemed to have weathered the pressure to the break, but they were stunned in injury-time when Carr left Gerard Doherty with no chance.
Coustrain and Sean Kavanagh linked up down the left and Coustrain showed more desire to win the chase with Ronan Hale before whipping a ball into Carr.
The striker had to reach behind to control the ball, and once he had it was a moment of pure class to turn and arrow the ball into the top-corner on the half-volley.
It was a hammer-blow to Derry, who seemed to have set up to contain their hosts and would now be forced to come forward and risk being picked off on the break.
To that end, Kenny Shiels brought on Gavin Peers at the break for Conor McDermott at centre-half, a more experienced voice alongside the youngster Eoin Toal.
It didn't change the Candystripes' fortunes though, as Rovers continued to dictate the tempo of the game and stretch the callow Derry side.
Toal should have equalised, however, from a terrific free-kick delivery from Jamie McDonagh, but with a free header he glanced the ball harmlessly past the post.
And the Candystripes were punished by more good build-up play from Rovers, Brandon Kavanagh finding Carr and, when his shot was blocked, Coustrain bundled home his second in two games.
Shamrock Rovers: Gavin Bazunu; Joey O'Brien, Roberto Lopes, Lee Grace, Sean Kavanagh; Sam Bone, David McAllister, Ronan Finn, Brandon Kavanagh (Brandon Miele 77), Joel Coustrain (Aaron Bolger 77); Dan Carr (Sean Boyd 85).
Derry City: Gerard Doherty; Jamie McDonagh, Eoin Toal, Conor McDermott (Gavin Peers 46), Jack Doyle; Darren Cole, Rory Hale, Ben Fisk (Shane McNamee 86); Ben Doherty, Ronan Hale (Aidy Delap 71), Rory Patterson.
