Derry City's resurgence continued with a win over Finn Harps in an outstanding North West derby in Ballybofey.

Will Patching's brace from the spot and a free kick proved the difference.

Ethan Boyle scored a header for Harps, but it wasn't enough.

This was an excellent encounter between two hungry teams, which was played with high intensity for 75 minutes, before tailing off.  

It featured an entertaining duel of attacking football, which both sets of defenders struggled to contain. 

The game was seven minutes old when Ronan Boyce's high delivery forced Boyle to clumsily bundle over David Parkhouse.  

Patching dispatched the resulting penalty kick into the bottom corner.  

Harps were undeterred and played their way back into the game.  

Adam Foley and Tunde Owolabi were stand-out performers in the first half and throughout.  

Boyle atoned for the concession of the penalty by capitalising on a spot of head tennis from a Barry McNamee corner kick. 

The former pounced to head home from close range following Kosovar Sadiki's flick-on from a Shane McEleney header. 

Both sides attacked in waves over the remainder of the half, while neither defence could put a solid stamp on the game. 

Patching earned the free, which would prove to be the match-winner, just before interval.   

The pinpoint effort from 23 yards out, hit the top corner to ensure he delivered his sixth goal of the campaign. 

Finn Harps started brightest in the second half, and they deployed consistent probing balls over the top, which allowed Tunde Owolabi to use his speed to turn the Candystripes' back four.  

Eoin Toal made two effective blocks to break up Harps attacking threat. 

Eventually, Derry City managed to quell the pressure. 

Tunde had another chance after being teed up by substitute Conor Barry, but his effort forced a superb stop by Nathan Gartside. 

Patching forced Mark McGinley into a stop from another free-kick. 

As substitutions began to roll in, the tempo began to die out, which suited Derry to effectively close out the match.