Again five minutes later, Beattie and Devaney were involved in good build-up for the away side. This time Beattie set up the former Sligo man with a lovely ball over the top, his low cross from the right cannoned off Molloy and into the body of Gerard Doherty who knew nothing about it. But that would be as good as it got for the visitors in the first half.

The red tide began with a chance for Stephen Dooley who latched on to Patrick McEleney’s floating ball at the back post but scuffed his shot wide. Then, with 18 minutes elapsed a hopeful punt by Doherty was nodded on by McEleney into the path Duffy, who fired past Dean Delany but not past past Aidan Price who covered well on the line.

McEleney was causing havoc in the Bohs backline and the former Sunderland trainee put through Paterson again moments later. His shot deflected off Price and behind for a corner with Delany beaten. From the resulting corner Derry got their first of the game. A high hanging ball to the back post was weakly punched away by the Gypsies’ net minder, it fell to Patterson, who ten yards from goal made no mistake.

The Candystripes would double their lead just before the half-hour mark. This time Barry McNamee ghosted past the non-existent Bohs midfield and laid the ball on beautifully for Duffy, who calmly slotted it past Delany and into the bottom right corner.

The game then entered a lull as Derry seemed satisfied with their lead with the away side unable to create an opening but just before the men playing in green could get to the sanctuary of half-time there was another red and white goal. Some nice play by Mark Timlin saw his pass nutmeg Derek Pender and find Duffy. Again the 20-year-old was calmness personified as he cut inside the box and fired it into the opposite corner to his first.

Bohemians looked more resolute defensively at the beginning of the second half but they only looked liked getting a consolation from a set-play. First Anto Murphy fired over from just inside of the box after Doherty only half cleared a Paddy Kavangh free kick. Next, the winger, playing against his old side, delivered a corner to the far post where Price could only direct his header onto the roof of the net and over. Eoin Wearen too had a chance in the air from another corner but steered it directly to Doherty.

With just over 20 minutes left in play, Derry drifting through the second half, began another onslaught. The impressive McNamme found substitute Philip Lowry on the edge of the area and  instead of shooting, he selflessly found Patterson in acres of room at the back post who finished powerfully to secure his brace.

As the game entered its final stages the chances kept coming for Derry. First Duffy stretched but was inches from his hat-trick as Dooley’s shot was almost parried into his path by Delany. Next, Barry Molloy marauding from the back failed to slip the ball past the Bohs shot stopper after bring put through by McNamee.

Despite their best efforts, Derry could not add to tally but they continue their revival under Peter Hutton with a one-sided victory. For Bohemians after a great run of recent results they fall back to earth with probably their worst performance of the season so far.

Next up is Shamrock Rovers in the EA Sports Cup semi-final on Monday at Dalymount. Only a vastly improved display will have a chance of toppling the old enemy and making the final.

Derry City: Gerard Doherty, Barry Molloy (c), Ryan McBride, Barry McNamee, Danny Ventre, Patrick McEleney (Philip Lowry 42), Rory Patterson (Ryan Curran 71), Michael Duffy, Mark Timlin, Stephen Dooley (Josh Tracey 76), Aaron Barry. Subs Not Used: Ciaran Gallacher (GK), Shane McEleney, Shaun Kelly, Cliff Byrne.

Bohemians: Dean Delany, Derek Pender (c), Aidan Price, Dan Bryne, Anto Murphy, Paddy Kavanagh, Eoin Wearen (Dave Mulcahy 73), Kevin Devaney, Stephen Beattie, Dinny Corcoran (Jason Byrne 61). Subs Not Used: Aaron Shanahan (GK), Jack Memery, Karl Moore, Ryan McEvoy, Keith Buckley.