Derry City came from behind to see off St Patrick's Athletic, at a packed Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.
All three goals came in the second half, as Pat Hoban cancelled out Ruairi Keating's opener, before substitute Daniel Mullen scored a tremendous stoppage time winner.
While the Candystripes were poor for large parts of the contest, Mullen's 92nd minute winner meant the large home support went home delighted.
The first half was a very dull affair, with neither City keeper Brian Maher or St Pat's net-minder Marcelo Pitaluga having a single shot to save and the encounter certainly wasn't a good advert for the league in front of the TV cameras.
Jon Daly's men took the lead on 48 minutes as Ben Doherty's terrible back pass found Ruairí Keating and the Saints front man raced into the City box before unleashing an unstoppable drive over Maher from the right hand angle of the box.
Brilliant finish from Ruairí Keating to put St Pat's 1-0 up on 48 minutes, this after a poor back pass from Derry
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) March 1, 2024
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On 55 minutes, Higgins decided to make a change with Paul McMullan replacing Jordan McEneff, as the home side tried to get a foot hole in the contest.
Derry equalised on 65 minutes as Will Patching's left wing corner found Hoban and the front man nodded home his second goal in three games.
From a corner Derry City draw level with St Pat's Athletic on 65 minutes as Pat Hoban rises highest to head home
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) March 1, 2024
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St Pat's had a great chance to regain the lead in the closing stages as an unmarked Chris Forrester was found by substitute Jason McClelland inside the box, but his goalbound strike, which would have beaten Maher, was blocked by an alert Ronan Boyce.
FT Derry City 2-1 St Pat's Athletic
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) March 1, 2024
Great move down the left, cross from Duffy eventually finds Danny Mullen who smashes home the winner - was on his right foot but teed it up on his left
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Derry netted the all important winner as substitute Mullen, who started the move on the half-way line, made no mistake with a fantastic left footed strike, which flew high past Pitaluga into the net, to spark wild celebrations amongst the home support.
Derry City: Brian Maher, Ronan Boyce, Mark Connolly, Cameron McJannet, Ben Doherty; Adam O'Reilly, Will Patching, Jordan McEneff (Paul McMullan 55); Daniel Kelly (Daniel Mullen 82), Pat Hoban, Michael Duffy (Shane McEleney 93).
St Patrick's Athletic: Marcelo Pitaluga, Joe Redmond, Conor Keeley, Luke Turner; Carl Axel Sjoberg (Alex Nolan 93), Jamie Lennon, Chris Forrester, Anthony Breslin; Kian Leavy (Aaron Bolger 83), Ruairi Keating (Cian Kavanagh 83), Brandon Kavanagh (James McClelland 76).
Referee: Mr Robert Havey (Dublin).
