THE Candystripes' capital gains secured another valuable three points at the Belfield Bowl to open up a six point lead at the summit of the Premier Division.
Ruaidhri Higgins' side had already collected maximum spoils at Shelbourne and Bohemians this season.
While it may have taken City until the final quarter of this entertaining and competitive rescheduled fixture, their winning goals from Will Patching and Ronan Boyce rightly reflected their dominance.
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Patching's classy 67th minute free kick capped a fine performance by the winter capture but Higgins can be happy with the input in every department of the pitch.
What's more, City's perseverance, that yielded late winners at Tolka and Dalymount in recent weeks, is a component that no title winning side can ever do without.
This win was built on industry with Cameron Dummigan, Matty Smith and Patrick McEleney always busy.
Derry's 100 per cent record in Dublin should not be ignored, either, for in the 25 years since Felix Healy's men last lifted the title, Derry's form in the city has frequently drained their bids for success.
Following the 2-0 defeat in Dundalk, Andy Myler made three changes with Michael Gallagher coming in at right full and Adam Verdon and John Ryan slotting into midfield.
Higgins also reshuffled his forces with Patrick McEleney and Matty Smith replacing Joe Thomson and Daniel Lafferty.
College settled swiftly to their task with Kerrigan, who was cleverly given an early roving role across the attack- posing a real threat down the home right flank.
But once Derry settled, they soon began to create scoring opportunities but somehow squandered three chances in the space of 60 seconds in the 18th minute.
Dummigan forced Lorcan Healy into a stunning save with his 35 yard effort that the keeper pushed on to the post with the home custodian recovering immediately to parry Patching's effort from 20 yards from the rebound.
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Derry scented an opening goal and they were again in the College box within seconds as Kavanagh's beautifully treaded pass picked out McGonigle whose initial control was textbook but who then somehow fired wide from 14 yards with only Healy to beat.
City then rattled UCD's crossbar through Kavanagh's dipping left foot effort in the 26th minute.
It seemed that it would only be a matter of time before the visitors broke the deadlock.
But with Eric York and Sam Todd standing tall at the heart of the home defence and Kerrigan and Colm Whelan posing a threat up front, Derry continued to be frustrated.
In fact, The Students might have taken a shock 41st minute lead when Brian Maher - so solid all season and a central figure in Ireland's under 21 win in Sweden last week - inexplicably raced 15 yards outside his box to deal with a long home clearance.
In the ensuing melee, Maher lost possession to Whelan who skilfully teed himself up to hook his effort towards he empty goal only for the ball to sail wide.
The Candystripes were soon back in control on the restart with Patrick McEleney testing Healy from 25 yards before Patching then crashed his stunning right foot effort against the crossbar in the 52nd minute.
Smith was next to take a pot shot with his effort deflecting off Gallagher for a corner.
Derry finally appeared to have mined the goal that their dominance merited when Eoin Toal rose highest at the far post to head Patching's corner inside the post.
However, the assistant referee signalled that he had seen an infringement - probably pushing by a City player - and Kevin O'Sullivan awarded a free out.
The sizeable City support in the modest attendance were now beginning to wonder if they would be heading back up the M1 with just one point.
But midway through the second period their lead goal arrived with Patching's exquisite right foot free kick.
The tension lifted amongst the Derry fans, so too in their side who began to stroke the ball around with pitch with renewed purpose.
While Kerrigan's low drive did fly only inches wide of Maher's right hand upright in the 70th minute, Cameron McJannett's low cross from the left seven minutes later picked out the raiding Boyce at the far post who calmly finished low past Healy.
This brace in the space of 11 minutes were sufficient to send City to great rivals Finn Harps on Saturday evening with a six point cushion.
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