Patrick Hoban hat-trick sees Derry City ease past Waterford

DERRY CITY  3 (Hoban 41', 45+5', 52' (P)

WATERFORD UNITED  0 

PATRICK Hoban continues to build his reputation at Derry City with a superbly taken hat-trick against Waterford at the Brandywell Stadium.

And if the truth be told, this game was put to bed at the break, Hoban having netted a brace of strikes within five minutes of the interval without reply.

Hoban made it 3-0 with a 52nd minute penalty, Waterford's Darragh Leahy red carded for tipping Derry's Paul McMullan who had raced into the danger area.

Waterford had already lost the services of defender Darragh Power after 20 minutes, the full-back pulling up following a race for possession with Ben Doherty, Joseph Forde entering the play.

That said, Waterford looked comfortable during the early stages but when Ruaidhri Higgins troops began to press towards the break they reaped significant rewards.

Waterford, therefore, crashed down to earth after what had been an impressive start to their return to the Premier Division.

And Keith Long will have few complaints as his side failed to seriously threaten in the final third, Derry keeper Brian Maher rarely troubled throughout the game.

The Candystripes should have broken the deadlock in the 30th minute when Danny Kelly scampered clear from midfield but in the one-on-one situation with Sam Sergeant, the Derry winger stroked the ball wide of the keeper when he really should have hit the target.

Waterford had a chance to score when skipper, Barry Baggley, picked the pocket of Adam O'Reilly but the Waterford player failed to find Connor Parsons with his delivery into the centre.

However, five minutes before the break, the home side netted a superb team goal to move into the driving seat.

Hoban was fouled close to the half