Derry City manager Ruaidhrí Higgins alluded to a tactical tweak at half time which enabled his side to pull off a landmark away win over champions Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium.
The Candystripes had to withstand a barrage for most of the first half, Ben Doherty's beautifully taken breakaway goal giving them the lead against the run of play before Johnny Kenny levelled the game with his first strike for the Hoops nine minutes later.
Otherwise, the hosts largely controlled the game for the opening 45 minutes, Graham Burke and Trevor Clarke both coming agonisingly close to scoring, while Neil Farrugia proved impossible to corral down the right flank.
However, Higgins urged more courage after the break and on 54 minutes - also very definitively against the run of play - Derry struck what proved the winner, Jamie McGonigle expertly sweeping home after a cut-back from Ryan Graydon.
"It's a brilliant win, a really really brilliant win," Higgins told RTÉ Sport afterwards.
"They’re the champions three times in a row for a reason. You’re going to come under sustained periods of pressure. I felt by and large we dealt with it really well and we looked a threat going the other way. I think it’s a sublime goal that won it (from Jamie McGonigle).
"We asked for a wee bit more courage at half time. I felt we gave up possession too easily in the first half which is not like us. And we definitely played with more courage and more belief.
"As I said, the second goal, Will Patching as played an exquisite piece of quality, brilliant from Ryan Graydon who was a constant threat in the second half and McGonigle's finish was similar to the cup final finish, great goal.
"We made a slight tactical change to get hold of the game, more control, get more bodies in central areas, where they can hurt you. We done it, we've done it before and the players know what to do when we make that change."
While the two Derry goals were bolts from the blue, both were exquisitely constructed and taken, Higgins singling out Will Patching and Ryan Graydon for their role in the creation.
"Brilliant goals," says Higgins. "Rovers were in the ascendancy when we scored the first one. We had energy and legs and to put it away, he did it brilliantly. He's a good finisher Ben (Doherty).
"The second goal is class. Will Patching, I don’t know how he seen it and executed it, it’s a brilliant wee pass, slipped inside one of their players, good composure from (Ryan) Graydon."
In Higgins' first full season in charge - he assumed the Derry job in late April 2021 - they claimed an FAI Cup and finished league runners-up, a mid-season slump preventing them from mounting a fuller assault on the title.
Derry's win in Tallaght lifts them to the top of the table, five points clear of Shamrock Rovers, though Higgins is swift to cut down any talk of 'statement' wins.
"It's too early to be talking about statement wins. It’s a big win. We’ve gone away to Pat’s, away to Shamrock Rovers, and home to Cork and we’ve taken seven points. It’s a great start but that’s all it is.
"To come here and pick up points, I don't think Rovers lost a home game last season, so to come here and beat them was a brilliant result."
