Shamrock Rovers moved ten points clear of second-placed Bohemians at the top of the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division courtesy of a 2-0 win over Derry City at Tallaght Stadium.
The Candystripes had the better of the first half but came undone on the turnaround with Rory Gaffney notching a brace.
Michael Duffy hit the post for Derry in the first half and the Hoops were tormented by winger Brandon Fleming who caused problems for the Rovers defence raiding down the right-hand side against an out of sorts home side.
But a goal two minutes after the restart from Gaffney settled the Hoops. His second, a fine individual effort in the 65th minute, wrapped up the points for Stephen Bradley's men who look odds on now to go on to win the title with ten games remaining
Derry had hoped for a first league win in ten against Rovers on the fifth anniversary of the passing of John Hume, the one-time City president, but Gaffney put paid to those hopes with his two second half goals.
Gaffney was in the action early as Rovers went close in the ninth minute when a long ball from skipper Pico Lopez found Gaffney who turned Mark Connelly but shot narrowly wide.
At the other end Sadou Diallo chipped a lovely ball over the Rovers defence and in nipped Duffy who was denied as his shot hit the butt of the post.
Duffy looked menacing and just before the half-hour make, the winger cut brilliantly in between Lopez and Dan Cleary before drilling the ball across the face of the goal.
Duffy continued to be a thorn in the Rovers defence and he set up Brandan Fleming out on the Derry left approaching half time. Fleming dropped his shoulder to get past Lopez and his fizzing cross had to be dealt with by Lee Grace’s sliding clearance close to the Rovers goal line.
Connor Malley, recently signed by Rovers on loan from Sligo until the end of the season, was brought on for Aaron McEneff at half-time and supporters had barely taken their seats before Rovers hit the front in the 47th minute.
It's that man again!
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Rory Gaffney doubles Shamrock Rovers lead! pic.twitter.com/RGtpNTgit0
Lee Grace picked out the run of Josh Honohan who scampered towards the byline before he rolled the ball across to the unmarked Gaffney and he tapped home his seventh goal of the season.
Malley almost made it 2-0 seconds after the Derry restart when his right foot shot from distance has goalkeeper Maher beaten all ends up, but the Derry shot-stopper was relieved to see the ball crash off the crossbar and behind for a goal kick.
Gaffney’s eighth of the campaign came just with 25 minutes left on the clock as he latched onto a Dylan Watts ball, before turning Alex Bannon in the Derry area, and then smashing left foot shot into the net.
A superb finish by the Galwayman and game over as the home side comfortably saw out the remaining minutes.
Derry finished the game with ten players as Alex Bannon, already booked, was given a second one and a red card by referee Paul McLoughin in the 79th minute for a reckless two-footed lunge on Honohan.
Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty; Dan Cleary (Cory O’Sullivan 86), Roberto Lopez, Lee Grace; Danny Grant (John McGovern 74), Dylan Watts, Aaron McEneff (Connor Malley 45), Matt Healy, Danny Mandriou (Adam Mathews 74), Josh Holohan; Rory Gaffney (Michael Noonan 69).
Derry City: Brian Maher; Adam O'Reilly, Alex Bannon, Mark Connolly ©, Jamie Stott : Brandon Fleming; Liam Boyce (Gavin Whyte 63), Carl Winchester , Sadou Diallo (Ronan Boyce 85 ), Michael Duffy (Ben Doherty 85) ; Dipo Akinyemi (Danny Mullen 63)
Referee: Paul McLoughlin
