After promising a lot during the last few weeks, Derry delivered at last at Buckley Park on Saturday, when they completely outplayed Premier Division newcomers, Kilkenny City.

The league champions not only outran their opponents, but they gave them a lesson in football and showed Kilkenny exactly how far they have to go if they are to survive in the top flight.

"We have been playing well in recent weeks, but we just haven't been finishing," was the opinion of Derry manager, Felix Healy, afterwards.

"Hopefully, now we have turned the corner and we can get a few results together and get back in the chasing pack."

This was a very special game for Sean Hargan who bagged four goals for Derry. Hargan was presented with the match ball afterwards to mark his second hat-trick in senior soccer.

Hargan and his partner in crime, Liam Coyle, destroyed Kilkenny between them. Coyle supplied the crosses for three goals, while Hargan turned provider for the fifth goal, which was knocked home by Coyle in the 56th minute.

Hargan opened his account in the tenth minute and added to it in the 20th and 41st minutes to give the champions a commanding interval lead. The second half was only two minutes old when Hargan was at the end of a left-wing cross from Coyle and the Kilkenny cause was well and truly lost.

Derry had further cause to celebrate with the news last night of Peter Hutton's victory in the National League section of the FAI/Opel International Awards.

Kilkenny City: A Stephenson, R Walsh, P Devereaux, D Walsh, T Hall, T Foster, J Power, B Arrigan, K Kelly, R Hale, B Rea, Res. D Breen for Devereaux (62 mins); A Cooney for Walsh (62 mins).

Derry City: T O'Dowd, E Doherty, S Gallagher, P Hutton, P Curran, G Dykes, T Mohan, P Hegarty, L Coyle, S Hargan, J Keddy. Res. R Coyle for Hegarty (61 mins); D Kelly for Curran (61 mins).

Referee: B Barry (Waterford).