Clarke double helps Derry end winless run

Derry clinched their fifth win of the campaign and a first victory in eight attempts.

James Clarke scored a brace for Derry against his former club Bohemians. Pic: ©INPHO/Lorcan Doherty

SSE Airtricity Premier Division: Derry City 4 (Clarke 24, 60 Barr 55, Dos Santos 62) Bohemians 1 (Vaughan 17)

DERRY CITY signed off from Celtic Park with their biggest win of the season as they came from behind against Bohemians.

Former Bohs favourite James Clarke, who was the Dubliners' top scorer last season, bagged a brace as Derry ran away with the game in the second half.

Tiernan Lynch's under-performing side clinched their fifth win of the campaign and a first victory in eight attempts.

The Brandywell club had scored just twice in their previous four games at the Derry GAA headquarters prior to this clash and this was just the second time they scored more than two goals in a game.

The midseason break clearly came at the perfect time for the Candystripes who had won just four games in their opening 20 games.

Bohemians came into the game in second spot having won four of their previous five fixtures and the Dubliners got off to the perfect start.

Harry Vaughan, whose contract at Hull City expires this month, fired a thunderous strike from distance past Eddie Beach on 17 minutes.

Clarke levelled the match on 24 minutes when he calmly found the bottom corner of the net after Kevin Dos Santos picked him out in the six yard box.

Northern Ireland U21 international Conor Barr put Derry ahead on 55 minutes with a spectacular effort - the 20 year-old's first goal for his hometown club.

That was the first of three goals from the home side in the space of eight minutes as Derry turned on the style.

Clarke struck the foot of the post on the hour mark but reacted quickly to fire in the rebound against his former club.

Two minutes later Dos Santos finished a lovely team move as City skipper Michael Duffy crossed from the left.

It was all one-way traffic, and although Clarke missed the chance to complete a treble from the penalty spot, it was a much-needed win for the under-pressure Lynch as Derry remained unbeaten at Celtic Park.

Derry City: Beach 6, Cotter 6 (Olayinka 7, h-t, Boyce 6, 77), Barr 8, P McClean 7, Fleming 7; Markey 7 (Downey 6, 90), O'Reilly 7, Dummigan 8; Dos Santos 7 (Rylah 6, 87), Clarke 8, Duffy 7 (J. McClean 6, 87).

Bohemians: Walters 6, Hickey 6, Byrne 5 (McDonnell 6, 69), Todd 6; Power 6, Diallo 5 (Flores 6, 59), Devoy 7, Vaughan 7 (Burke 6, 69), Rooney 7 (Parsons 6, 59) ; Tierney 7 (Myers 6, 78); Whelan 6.

Referee: Rob Hennessy (Dublin).