Derry City 5 Drogheda United 0

Minus the services of five first- team players due to suspension, Drogheda United were put the sword at the Brandywell, Derry City totally dominant throughout the proceedings.

In fact, the visitors had no answer to Derry’s pace and movement and, indeed, they could have won this game by a bigger margin in the end.

Ruthless in front of goal after the break, Derry constantly had the visitors on the back foot, Damien Richardson’s side clearly feeling the absence of so many key players.

The home side got off to the best possible start when Patrick McEleney netted a wonder goal after just six minutes.

And it was a move straight from the training ground, a spectacular strike from 35 yards which screamed into the Drogheda net following a short corner.

Derry continued to press after the break and, in the 54th minute, Michael Duffy was sent scampering clear into a one- on-one situation with Micheál Schlingermann, but the keeper did well to block the effort.

In the 59th minute, McEleney spread the ball wide to Stephen Dooley and he played an incisive pass into the path of Rory Patterson who guided the ball home from an acute angle.

Derry’s passage to the last four was secured in the 70th minute following a break from defence.

The excellent McEleney raced forward and, having released Duffy, the 20-year-old’s pace carried him clear and as he drew Schlingermann from his line, the winger stroked the ball into the far corner off the base of the upright.

The home side continued to push and after Duffy crashed a shot off the crossbar, the same player set Patterson up for his second of the match.

Patterson, however, had the final say when his free-kick took a wicked deflection before finding the Drogheda net.