Shamrock Rovers 5-1 Derry City

Gary Beckett gave Derry the lead in the first half

Derry City's recent revival came to an abrupt end then they lost to Shamrock Rovers on Friday night.

Kevin Mahon's men had put together a five-game unbeaten run as they recovered from a disastrous first few weeks of the new summer Eircom League season.

But after taking the lead at Richmond Park they crumbled to a rampant Rovers side who have been beaten just once in the Premier Division this term.

In a repeat of last season's Carlsberg FAI Cup final, the Candystripes took the lead on 13 minutes when Gary Beckett scored with a deflected free-kick.

They held that lead until early in the second half when they conceded a penalty for a foul by Mark McCrystal on Shane Robinson.

Stevie Gough netted the spot-kick to put Rovers on level terms.

Derry then had a penalty of their own but Sean Friars saw his effort saved by home keeper Bobby Ryan.

Former Shelbourne winger James Keddy scored the second for Rovers on 58 minutes and then made it 3-1 in the 62nd minute with a deflected shot.

Gough got his second and Rovers' fourth before Keddy rubbed salt in the Derry wound when he completed a hat-trick five minutes from time.

Shamrock Rovers now move up to third in the Premier Division standings, three points behind undefeated Shelbourne who had two players sent-off in their 0-0 draw away to Cork City.

Other Premier Division results
Waterford United 1-1 Longford Town
Bohemians 1-0 Drogheda United
Cork City 0-0 Shelbourne
UCD 0-0 St Patrick's Athletic