While emphasising their beating last year's league winners Drogheda three times made them worthy champions, Bohemians manager Pat Fenlon stressed that Derry had been perhaps his side's toughest opponents this season.
And so it proved as Stephen Kenny's side earned a narrow 1-0 win, courtesy of Mark Farren's late goal, to spoil the presentation party as Bohemians received the league crown, and their medals, after the final whistle.
It ended a 12-match winning run and was only Bohemians' second defeat of the league campaign since losing to St. Patrick's Athletic at the same venue in March.
Bohemians also finished with ten men as Anthony Murphy was controversially sent off for diving by referee Richie Winter, much to the angst of the home faithful.
With a decision on a dispute regarding the €40 million sale of Dalymount Park to developer Liam Carroll adjourned in the High Court until November 4, there was no good news for Bohemians on their relocation aspirations ahead of kick-off.
The league won, though, Fenlon perhaps with one eye on next week's FAI Ford Cup semi-final at St. Patrick's, made four changes to the side that clinched the title at United Park last week with regulars Liam Burns, Killian Brennan and Stephen O'Donnell on the bench.
But such is the quality of his squad, those who did come in certainly did their claims to start again next week little harm as Bohemians' desire was undiminished as they carved the first opening on 11 minutes; Jason Byrne, their two goal hero last week, forcing an agile save from Ger Doherty with a close-range shot.
Byrne almost caught Doherty unawares ten minutes later with an audacious 35-yard free-kick which the keeper was late to react to after Derry captain Clive Delaney had been booked for a foul on Glen Crowe.
Third-placed Derry, well in contention for Europa League qualification next season, responded with Niall McGinn troubling Bohemians with goalkeeper Brian Murphy twice having to make comfortable saves from the pacy left winger.
Derry showed plenty of purpose in the second half and twice came close early on. Gareth McGlynn, picked out by Farren, volleyed just over the top before providing a low delivery Farren just failed to meet.
The game perhaps turned on 69 minutes when Winter sent off Bohemians' midfielder Murphy for diving after pushing the ball past goalkeeper Gerard Doherty.
Booked for dissent in the first half, it was a second yellow for Murphy, though it seemed very harsh as there appeared to be contact. Bohemians goalkeeping coach, Dermot O'Neill, thought so and was also sent to the stand for protesting.
The only goal then arrived on 76 minutes when Sammy Morrow played Farren in on goal down the inside left channel and the striker, watched last night by scouts from Brighton, shot past Brian Murphy despite the keeper getting a hand to the ball.
Bohemians: B. Murphy; O. Heary, McGuinness, Oman (Burns, 89 mins.), Powell; A. Murphy, Cronin, Deegan (O'Donnell, 62 mins.), Kelly (Kalonas, 72 mins.); Crowe, Byrne.
Derry City: Doherty; McCallion (Callaghan, 53 mins.), Delaney, McChrystal, Gray; McGlynn, Molloy (Higgins, 75 mins.), Deery, McGinn; Morrow, Farren (Stewart, 92 mins.).
Referee: Richie Winter (Dublin).
