Liam Boyce's hat-trick is his second in three games
Liam Boyce's hat-trick helped last year's runners-up Derry City advance to the third round of the FAI Cup as they netted five second-half goals to defeat First Division side Treaty United 5-1 at the Markets Field.
Liam Boyce opened the scoring in the 60th minute, just four minutes after his introduction before Alex Bannon netted his first goal for the club.
Boyce grabbed his second of the evening on 75 minutes with another headed effort.
The home side made it 3-1 with 10 minutes to go when Lee Devitt found the back of the net, but they were unable to stage a late comeback with Boyce netting his third of the evening in the 85th minute from the penalty spot and Danny Mullen scoring two minutes later.
The Candystripes are hoping to reach the showpiece at the Aviva Stadium in November for the third time in the last four seasons after being defeated by Drogheda in the final last season.
Treaty United frustrate Derry during opening 45 minutes
Both sides had chances to break the deadlock in the opening 10 minutes in Limerick with starting debutant Bannon nodding Michael Duffy's header just over before Devitt fired off target at the other end.
Treaty United then enjoyed a spell of possession, during which Trpimir Vrljicak and Mark Murphy went close with efforts.
Derry City then had two good chances with Sadou Diallo's shot from another Duffy corner deflected out of play and Sam Todd's free header from the resulting set-piece going narrowly wide.
In the closing stages of the first half, Treaty United stopper Corey Chambers was forced to make a smart save with his foot to deny Adam O'Reilly's shot from close range.
Brian Maher was also called into for action just before the break when he made a diving stop to thwart Devitt's on-target effort away.
Super sub Boyce makes impact
Vrljicak continued to ask questions of the Derry defence with his low shot met by a diving save from Maher just after the restart.
Derry struggled to create many clear-cut chances early in the second half with manager Tiernan Lynch turning to his bench and introducing Boyce as well as Hayden Cann in the 56th minute.
Boyce made an instant impact and broke the deadlock just four minutes after his introduction when the striker headed a corner from Duffy over the outstretched Chambers.
Derry doubled their lead on 72 minutes through yet another Duffy corner when his delivery was nodded into the bottom corner by Bannon, for his first goal for the Candystripes.
The goals had a positive impact on the visitors' confidence, and they scored again through former Northern Ireland international Boyce when he nodded home Duffy's set piece for his 10th of the season from Duffy's third assist of the evening.
The hosts would get on the scoresheet themselves when the Derry defence were caught sleeping and left Devitt with time to slot past Maher.
Boyce pushed for his hat-trick and sent a left-footed strike narrowly wide in the closing stages of the game.
The former Heart of Midlothian forward would secure the match ball six minutes from time when he was brought down by stopper Chambers and coolly slotted home the resulting spot-kick.
Mullen netted the final goal of the game and completed an impressive second half from the away side when he converted Todd's cross from the left hand side with three minutes left.
The draw for the last 16 will take place on Tuesday, 22 July, with ties to be played during the weekend of the 16-17 August.
