Aaron Doran believes a dominant derby display was just the tonic for revitalised Caley Thistle ahead of the demands of a massive January spell.

The Irishman's deadly double and Billy Mckay's clincher brought New Year's Day joy to one half of the Highlands - as Ross County remained rock bottom.

The dominant Inverness Caley Thistle display stopped the rot after a worst run of league defeats in four years for John Hughes' men.

And it was a thoroughly-deserved three points to boost European ambitions on a day when County and relegation rivals St Mirren both sank deeper into trouble at the foot of the table.

For Doran, back in favour after a lengthy spell on the sidelines, it was a crucial win.

The thrilled 23-year-old enthused: "We needed this win. We came here knowing we had to produce the goods and now that's we've done that we are looking to kick on again against St Mirren on Sunday.

"We needed to stop the rot. We've been playing good football but we haven't been getting the results and it was important we put that right here.

"I didn't think I personally did too well against Aberdeen on Sunday so I was pleased to keep my place in the team - and I need to impress.

"My second goal was a deflection but I'll take it too and I know I'll need a few more to stay in the team."

There hadn't been a New Year Highland derby in Dingwall for almost exactly 20 years.

Back then on January 2, 1995, Bobby Wilson's County had beaten Sergei Baltacha's Caley Thistle 3-1.

The city team had long since established overall dominance in the fixture, though, with a victory haul double County's in total - 22 to the Staggies 11 - and it never looked like being eroded at the Global Energy Stadium.

The recent form book might have favoured high-flying Caley Thistle were it not for the small matter of a damaging three-game losing run coming into the big local clash.

Nevertheless, the first-footers from the Highland capital always looked a step ahead of their hosts in the hammering rain.

Relegation-threatened County had been boosted by Saturday's draw at Celtic but none of that mattered a jot coming into the fiery local showdown.

Hughes' men quickly grasped the initiative, creating a couple of early chances and County were soon clinging on by their fingertips under the early barrage.

When Scott Boyd could only head into the path of Mckay as he met a high ball, the Northern Ireland striker turned smartly and struck inches wide from the edge of the box.

With 13 minutes gone, there was a spark of controversy as Mackay neatly-controlled a long Josh Meekings ball into the box.

Mckay cleverly cut inside marker Boyd and the big County defender clearly held him back as sight of goal beckoned, but referee Steven Mclean waved away protests.

Three minutes later, County skipper Richie Brittain hacked the ball off the line from a fierce Graeme Shinnie strike.

But the breakthrough finally came after 27 minutes - and it was thoroughly deserved for Inverness.

Mckay's good play to the right of the box saw him flick the ball over his head, before Watkins flicked it inside again.

The waiting Doran needed no second invitation and struck low with venom past the diving Toni Reguero from 15 yards.

County's discomfort was reflected by an early substitution with Frenchman Yoann Arquin hooked in a straight swap for striker Liam Boyce.

The move enlivened County with the Irishman's great link-up with Brittain after 37 minutes ending with the County captain going close with a deflected 20-yard dig.

Immediately on the break, Doran and young Christie tore at the hosts' defence and Mckay's snapshot was brilliantly parried by Reguero.

Before the break, manager Jim McIntyre made a second unenforced substitution with on-loan Celtic midfielder Jackson Irvine replacing Canadian international Terry Dunfield.

McIntyre committed his third and final substitution before the hour, with skipper Brittain sacrificed for striker Jake Jervis.

After 58 minutes, though, County looked in serious trouble.

Greg Tansey's corner from the right was struck hard into the heart of the County box and was unconvincingly cleared as it bobbled against a couple of bodies on it's path to Doran at the edge of the box.

The Dubliner knew exactly what to do, drilling hard and low into the ruck of bodies and seeing his strike take a cruel deflection past Reguero for the visitors' second.

County, though, responded in the very best manner possible - by immediately cutting the deficit back to one goal.

First substitute Irvine watched agonisingly as he hit the inside of the box from the right side of the box, with the ball hacked for a corner.

From Martin Woods' delivery, Aussie Irvine launched himself into a 10-yard diving header that beat Dean Brill with emphatic ease.

It was getting frantic as David Raven's strike was parried over the bar for a corner by the outstretched arms of Reguero.

It was also getting heated, with County's Slovak Filip Kiss entering the book for a blatant foul and a melee erupting around Irvine and Watkins as they squared up angrily.

County's hopes of salvaging at least a point faded after 73 minutes as Caley Thistle struck for the third time.

Again, it was the dead ball delivery of Tansey from a free-kick that caused trouble, with defender Gary Warren rising to knock the ball down and Billy Mckay sliding in with classic poacher's instinct to net from a few yards.

County manager Jim McIntyre was furious and vowed to ring the changes in January.

He said: "It wasn't good enough - from start to finish.

"I thought Inverness pretty much dominated the game and you can clearly see why I made the early changes.

"I wasn't pleased at all with the level of performance. They were sharper than us and did most things better - and that's why they were comfortable winners.

"It is very frustrating. That's why we're bottom of the league. The consistency levels from week-to-week are not there.

"That's why we need to make some changes and improve that. That's the way we'll start picking up points."