Derry City cruised to a win that was as emphatic as the scoreline suggests at Terryland Park.

A depleted Galway United had nearly pinched a third-minute lead as Dave Cooke's intelligent run was spotted by Derek O'Brien whose quick throw released his colleague.

Cooke's cross wasn't gathered by Ger Doherty and struck the woodwork before eventually being hacked clear.

Derry were relieved to escape that scare, though, responding with a dash of style as Ruardhi Higgins and Kevin Deery sought to pass the ball.

And in the seventh minute Liam Kearney's cross found Sammy Morrow, who forced a fine, reflex save from Galway custodian Barry Ryan.

Stephen Kenny's side were firmly in control for vast chunks of the first half, and 24 minutes in, Morrow headed an Eddie McCallion assist wide.

But Morrow eventually rattled the Galway net in the 35th minute when supplying the close-range finish after Kevin Deery and Mark Farren had created the chance.

Derry were in the ascendancy and doubled their lead in the 51st minute when Morrow converted a penalty after referee Alan Kelly controversially ruled that Cooke had handled a Gareth McGlynn cross.

Impressive Derry winger McGlynn was involved in the creation of substitute David Scullion's third on 64 as the visitors ruthlessly punished Galway's defensive hesitancy.

Late on, Derry may have added further damage, but Ciaran Martyn was denied by Barry Ryan in stoppage time as Stephen Kenny's dynamic side closed the gap on Cork City and Bohemians.

Galway United: Ryan; Conneely, McKenna, Guthrie, Davoren; Cooke, McBrien, McGrath, O'Brien; O'Shea, Faherty (Molloy, 64).

Derry City: Doherty; McCallion, Delaney, Hutton, Gray; McGlynn, Higgins (Molloy, 53, Martyn, 78), Deery, Kearney (Scullion, 47); Morrow, Farren.

Referee: A Kelly (Cork).