Derry City comfortably saw off champions Shelbourne at a packed Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.
First-half goals from Michael Duffy and Liam Boyce sealed the win, but for boss Tiernan Lynch he'll be just as pleased with the clean sheet his side secured.
The victory and more importantly the overall performance was Derry's most complete display of the year and exactly what Lynch and Co have been crying out for all season.
Despite not having a lot of the ball in the opening 10 minutes, it was the Brandywell men who broke the deadlock on 14 minutes following a superbly worked corner-kick routine.
Shane Ferguson's right-wing corner found an unmarked Duffy at the back post, who ghosted in behind everyone before blasting home his sixth goal of the campaign, much to Shels boss Damien Duff's frustration as he'll be fuming that his team let the City winger totally free inside the six-yard box.
The Candystripes went close to doubling their lead soon after but Ronan Boyce's well-hit effort from just inside the box, flew just past Conor Kearns' right-hand post.
Derry were gifted a second on 31 minutes as Sam Bone coughed up possession to Boyce and the former Hearts man raced in on goal before with his left foot fired low into Kearns right-hand corner.
City goalkeeper Brian Maher was called into action just before the break when he got down low to turn Evan Caffrey's strike around his left-hand post.
The Tolka Park men huffed and puffed in the second half and while they and Derry made a host of changes, Duff's men failed to test Maher.
In fact, it was the Foylesiders who looked like they were going to add to their tally as they showed good composure to produce a professional performance.
Derry City: Brian Maher, Hayden Cann, Mark Connolly, Kevin Holt; Ronan Boyce, Carl Winchester, Adam O’Reilly, Shane Ferguson (Sam Todd 60); Gavin Whyte (Robbie Benson 60), Liam Boyce (Daniel Mullen 67), Michael Duffy (Paul McMullan 67).
Shelbourne: Conor Kearns, Sean Gannon, Sam Bone (Tyreke Wilson 65), Kameron Ledwidge, James Norris (Ryan O'Kane 71); JJ Lunney, Kerr McInroy (John Martin HT), Ellis Chapman; Evan Caffrey (John O'Sullivan 71), Mipo Odubeko, Ali Coote (Harry Wood 65).
Referee: Rob Hennessy (Dublin).
