Will Patching broke St. Pat's hearts at a capacity packed Brandywell Stadium, his 92nd minute scintillating strike sending Derry City to the summit of the Premier Division table before the two weeks international break.
And it was a result warmly welcomed by the Foyleside club who now remain unbeaten having played six competitive games.
Not for the first time, Brandywell boss, Ruaidhri Higgins, watched his side play to the final whistle and again that quality saw the 'Candystripes' enjoy a particularly handsome reward.
Read more: Derry City 2 Drogheda Utd 0: McGonigle grabs the goals as Duffy hobbles off
And Derry could have asked for a better start to this fixture when breaking the deadlock after just four minutes.
Danny Lafferty gained possession on the left flank and found Patching in space before the Derry playmaker worked the ball onto his right foot before curling a superb shot into the far corner of Joseph Anang's net.
Four minutes later Pat's threatened when Billy King stung the palms of Brian Maher, the Derry keeper punching the ball clear.
Jamie McGonigle tested the impressive Anang in the 10th minute, the visiting young keeper doing well to pluck the ball out of the air.
And Anang was back in the thick of the action in the 18th minute when he superbly parried a goal bound effort from Ronan Boyce who had been set-up by Patching.
Pat's went close to equalising again in the 32nd minute when a Chris Forester delivery was met by King but his header skimmed the crossbar and the big crowd breathed a sigh of relief.
But Back bounced Derry with Lafferty forcing Anang into another vital save as the play swung from end to end.
One minute before the break McGonigle really should have doubled Derry's lead when Patching again assumed the role of provider before the Derry hitman crashed his shot off the base of the upright from an acute angle. He really should have done better.
However, it was St. Pat's who gained reward two minutes into the second half when centre-back, Tom Grivosti, silenced the Brandywell with a sublime strike.
Chris Forrester played the ball back into Grivosti's path and his right foot shot screamed into the top corner of Brian Maher's net to restore equality.
And if Patching was considered the dominant player in midfield during the opening period, then Forrester clearly upped his ante following the change of ends, the Dubliner heavily involved in the action.
Indeed, the Pat's captain let fly with a superb left foot shot in the 59th minute from 25 yards which sailed narrowly over the crossbar.
Derry began to get their act together when Lafferty was played through by Kavanagh, the wing-back denied by Anang, the Pat's keeper feeling the full power of the shot when saving with his upper body.
Patching, however, had the final with his second spectacular late, late strike, the Pat's defence failing to close him down and the midfielder punished them with a scintillating strike.
Read more: Doherty insists Limavady are more than a one trick pony
Read more: UCD v Derry City called off due to a waterlogged pitch
For more Derry news, visit our new site MyDerry.
