Duffy treble lifts City at UCD Bowl

Michael Duffy. Picture credit: Piaras O Midheach / SPORTSFILE

Michael Duffy hit a hat-trick as Derry City showed no ill-effects from their Europa League defeat in Belarus with a 6-1 Premier Division win over UCD at the 
Belfield Bowl.

Derry deservedly took the lead on 20 minutes when Michael Timlin collected 'keeper Ger Doherty's free-kick to knock a sublime ball through for the run of Duffy who controlled it superbly before touching it past Conor O'Donnell.

Rory Patterson doubled Derry's advantage before the break as Derry punished sloppy defending to get a second goal. Nathan Boyle again set up Duffy to score his second goal of the game five minutes after the interval. The hat-trick arrived two minutes later when Duffy sidefooted home from Josh Tracey's low cross.

UCD got a goal back two minutes later through Robbie Benson but Derry added a fifth goal right on 90 minutes through skipper Barry Molloy.

But they weren't finished yet as Patterson got his second of the game five minutes into added time.