Relegated Kilkenny may be building for the future, but they were in destructive mood at Buckley Park when they pulled down Derry City to the edge of the relegation zone.

This defeat on Saturday left Derry third from bottom, and in the play-off spot for relegation. Some turnaround for the champions, who gave Kilkenny a football lesson when winning 5-0 at the same venue earlier in the season.

"This was a fantastic win for us" enthused Kilkenny Boss, Alfie Hale. "We are building for next season and a serious assault on the first division. A result like this gives us great heart after what has been a testing season."

Derry rarely looked like getting a draw, never mind a win. Their football was lovely over two-thirds of the pitch; but in the scoring zone they offered little. The winning strike came in the sixth minute. Paul Cashin put a beautifully weighted ball through and Brendan Rea's vicious drive from 18 yards hit the net via the left upright.

Subsequently Derry created just two chances of note. In the 25th minute a Tom Mohan corner was headed on by Gary Beckett. But defender Gareth Kelly saved on the Kilkenny line.

In the 83rd minute Sean Hargan got into a good position on the left inside the box, but his screaming drive zipped past the far post.

In the 54th minute Kilkenny were within inches of going further ahead. Davey Walsh tried to chip the keeper, who made a desperate one-handed save to take the ball off the head of Ritchie Hale.

Kilkenny City: Connolly, Kelly, Power, Breen, R Walsh, Reddy, Cashin, Cooney, Vaughan, Hale, Rea. Subs: D Walsh for Reddy (29 mins), Carolan for Hale (68 mins).

Derry City: O'Dowd, Doherty, Hargan, Taggart, Curran, Dykes, Mohan, Heggarty, L Coyle, Beckett, Bell. Subs: Brunton for Coyle (24 mins); Boyle for Bell (68 mins).

Referee: T Tully (Cork).