Derry City ran out comfortable winners over a battling Drogheda United at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.
After Jordan McEneff had given City the lead just before the break, two late strikes from Jamie McGonigle and Michael Duffy secured the deserved victory to make it a really super Sunday for the Candy Stripes.
The three points moved City back into third place, five points behind champions Shamrock Rovers and having played a game less than the Hoops.
While Ruaidhrí Higgins' men deserved the win, they had goalkeeper Brian Maher to thank, as the net-minder made a superb save to deny Adam Foley, when the game was still scoreless.
Drogheda should have broken the deadlock on 12 minutes as Kyle Robinson got in behind the City defence, before his cut-back into the six yard box found an unmarked Adam Foley, but the ex-Finn Harps man's close range shot was superbly kept out by Brian Maher's left boot.
On 30 minutes a lovely defence splitting pass by Brandon Kavanagh released Michael Duffy, his left wing cut-back found Adam O'Reilly at the edge of the box, but the midfielder's shot took a deflection on its way over the crossbar.
Derry took the lead on 41 minutes as danger man Duffy broke clear down the left before picking out Jordan McEneff on the edge of the box, the midfielder steadied himself before blasting low into Andrew Wogan's bottom right hand corner.
The visitors missed a glorious chance to level things on 51 minutes as Dayle Rooney's teasing left wing cross found Robinson, but the big striker's close range header was well off target.
Derry went close to doubling their lead on 64 minutes but substitute Paul McMullan saw his low drive from the edge of the box, which had goalkeeper Wogan worried, fly inches wide.
With their tails up the home side were pushing hard for the killer goal and shortly afterwards Ciaran Coll's 20-yard pile driver was parried away by Wogan, after McMullan's lovely cross had picked out the full-back on the edge of the box.
On 78 minutes Duffy played in Jamie McGonigle, but the substitute's shot from the left hand side of the box was well saved by Wogan.
City wrapped the points up on 85 minutes as Patching's sublime flick released McGonigle and this time the striker made no mistake, firing low past Wogan from the right hand edge of the six yard box, slotting the ball into the opposite bottom corner.
Four minutes later Derry added a third as McMullan's put Duffy through, and he calmly slotted the ball past the out-rushing Wogan to cap a fine individual performance.
In stoppage time Duffy went close again, but his shot from 12 yards, after Patching's clever dummy had created the chance, was straight at Wogan.
Derry City: Brian Maher, Ronan Boyce, Shane McEleney (Mark Connolly 83), Cameron McJannet, Ciaran Coll; Sadou Diallo (Patrick McEleney 58), Adam O'Reilly, Jordan McEneff (Will Patching 58); Brandon Kavanagh (Paul McMullan 58), Daniel Mullen (Jamie McGonigle 71), Michael Duffy.
Drogheda United: Andrew Wogan, Conor Kane, Conor Keeley, Jamie Egan, Luke Heeney; yan Brennan, Gary Deegan; Dayle Rooney, Darragh Markey (Warren Davis 83), Adam Foley (Aaron McNally 68); Kyle Robinson (Darragh Noone 57).
Referee: Mr Eoghan O'Shea (Dublin).
