Derry City 3 Longford Town 1:Derry City ended Longford's three-match unbeaten run at a wet Brandywell last night, thanks to a superb second-half showing.

After a dull first half the game burst into life in the second period.

Within seconds of the resumption Longford created their best chance of the match but Dave Mooney failed to make contact with a Dessie Baker cross.

But Derry broke the deadlock in the 48th minute. Kevin McHugh played the ball into the path of his front-line partner, Sammy Morrow, who fired home a low drive.

Longford's Pat Sullivan crashed a 40-yard free-kick off the Derry crossbar in the 55th minute but the home side should have doubled their lead one minute later.

Paddy McCourt's pass put Kevin Deery in behind the visiting defence but the winger's shot struck the upright.

Derry eventually doubled their lead in the 77th minute when the lively McHugh raced onto an incisive Barry Molloy through ball to fire an angled shot to the net.

Dave Mooney's 80th minute penalty threw Longford a lifeline but after 87 minutes Derry killed off the game when Ciarán Martyn curled home a fine finish.

DERRY CITY: Jennings; McCallion, Oman, Hutton, McChrystal; Deery (Brennan, 72 mins), Martyn, Molloy, McCourt; Morrow (Farren, 89 mins), McHugh.

LONGFORD TOWN: Kelly; Sullivan (Ryan, 90 mins), Brennan, Doherty, Prunty; Reilly (Duffy, 76 mins), Deegan (James, 70 mins), Freeman, Martin; Mooney, Baker.

Referee: P Whelan (Dublin).