Derry City deservedly progressed to the semi-finals of the FAI Cup by beating Shelbourne 2-0 at the Brandywell on Saturday evening.
In a battle of the top two in the League of Ireland Premier Division, Michael Duffy and Danny Mullen scored goals in either half to ensure the Candystripes’ passage into the last four of the competition.
Derry will travel to face Bohemians at Dalymount Park in the semi-finals while Drogheda will be at home to First Division Wexford.
The hosts had the better of the first half and Paul McMullan forced Conor Kearns into a save from his low shot in the 17th minute.
Six minutes later Ruaidhri Higgins’ side were rewarded for their dominance when they took the lead through Duffy, the Derry player completing a neat passage of play by firing in his seventh goal of the season.
Derry could have extended their advantage six minutes before the break when Mullen, preferred up front to Pat Hoban, rounded Kearns and tried for the narrow gap but a covering defender saved Shels.
Mullen was also agonisingly wide of the target with a header after the break, before he stabbed the ball into the net to make it 2-0 on 64 minutes to secure a convincing win.
Derry trail Shelbourne by four points in the league title race and will continue their bid to overhaul Damien Duff‘s outfit at the summit when they host Shamrock Rovers on Friday night.