Football: A DERRY HOT PERFORMANCE

A SUPERB hat-trick by Mark Farren ensured that Derry City will play their North-West neighbours Finn Harps for a place in the League of Ireland Premier Division.

Farren, who had never scored for Derry before last night's do-or- die Brandywell game, blasted in a 14minutes hat-trick between the 44th and 58th minutes to overcome a Limerick side which had held them to a draw in the first leg of this play-off.

Limerick dangerman Stephen O'Flynn showed just why he's the target for some of the bigger clubs when he almost gave Limerick a shock lead in the fourth minute.

O'Flynn was quick to re-act when Paddy McLaughlin mistimed his tackle and the striker's thumping left foot drive was turned around the post for a corner by City goalkeeper Alan Gough.

Two minutes later Robert Hedderman's low cross from the left caused havoc in the Limerick defence before Paul Finucane hammered the ball out of the danger zone.

Farren failed to hit the target for Derry when, from six yards, his attempted header in the nineth minute from Gary Beckett's flick on sailed wide of the Limerick nets.

Six minutes later Ciaran Martyn put Beckett in the clear but the City striker pulled his close range shot across the goalmouth from 12 yards.

O'Flynn again caused the alarm bells to ring in the City defence when, in the 20th minute, his angled drive was just inches off target.

Derry almost took the lead in the 25th minute. Hedderman's blistering 40 yards shot was pushed over the crossbar by Healy and from the resulting corner, Hedderman's close range glancing header narrowly missed the target.

The first leg of the final is on Wednesday with the second leg this coming Saturday.

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