HAVING thumped five goals past Gretna in their glorious UEFA Cup victory, Derry City maintained their momentum to see off St Pat's last night.

Two goals in the space of eight first half minutes from Ken Oman gave Stephen Kenny's team the momentum they needed to move level with leaders Shelbourne with a 12th consecutive victory.

The home side's incessant pressure finally paid dividends on 23 minutes when Oman headed powerfully past Barry Ryan.

And Oman doubled Derry's lead eight minutes later with another header to punish the visitors' slack marking.

But the visitors reduced the deficit just five minute before the interval when, following a period of pressure as Mark Quigley's cross was headed in by Colm Foley.

However, Derry's Mark Farren finished matters 12 minutes from time when he drilled Ciaran Martyn's cross from the left into the net.

© Irish Independent