Thomas Stewart celebrates after scoring Derry City's fourth goal

Fourth-placed Derry City maintained their challenge for league honours with an emphatic victory over Premier Division strugglers Galway United.

City took the lead in the fifth minute when keeper Alvin Rouse let a Gareth McGlynn shot go through his hands.

Mark Farren then headed in from a Niall McGinn cross on 21 minutes.

Former Dungannon Swifts man McGinn made it 3-0 in the 29th minute and that was quickly followed by the fourth goal by ex-Linfield striker Thomas Stewart.

Galway were more competitive in the second half and forced a couple of good saves from Candystripes goalkeeper Gerard Doherty.

The result takes Stephen Kenny's men to within a point of third-placed Cork who face St Patrick's Athletic at Turner's Cross on Sunday.