Derry City substitute, Aaron Nash, broke Ballymun hearts at the Brandywell last night, the towering striker netting the fastest ever hat-trick at the Foyleside venue.

 

And it was particularly tough on Casey McQuillan's youngsters who had battled hard thrughout the proceedings, happy to keep the scoreline respectable following their first visit to the northern stadium.

 

Indeed, Lady Luck was clearly not on their side as they threatened to enter the break with would have been a deserved 0-0 scoreline.

 

Derry's David Scullion chipped the ball into the danger area in the 42nd minute before the unfortunate Liam Byrne headed high into his own net.

 

But the Dubliners battled on and while David McDonnell and Robert Keely failed to hit the target when well position, Mark McChrysal doubled Derry's lead in the 58th minute to basically end the tie as a contest.

 

And Ballymun would have been happy with that before Nash entered the fray at the expense of Sammy Morrow on 78 and within three minutes he headed home the first of what was a sensational hat-trick.

 

One minute later the striker scored another when diverting a James McClean cross home to make it 4-0 and, amazingly, he netted a high memorable hat-trick in the 85th minute to his side a flattering 5-0 lead.

 

As Ballymun heads clearly dropped, David Scullion ended the rout with Derry's six goal to see last season's FAI Cup finalists safely through in the 86th minute.

 

Derry City: Doherty; O'Brien, McChrystal, Delaney (McEleney, 87), McCallion; Scullion, Higgins, Martyn, McClean; Morrow (Nash, 78), Farren (84).

 

Ballymun Utd: Conroy; Doolan, Murray, O'Brien Sheridan; Byrne, O'Reilly, McDonnell, Flynn (Behan, 73); Doyle (Downey, 66), Keeley.

 

Referee: Mr. N. Doyle (Dublin)