It was the perfect Derry City return for James McClean at Tallaght Stadium on Saturday evening: a hard-earned victory at the home of the reigning champions, plus a piece of silverware to lift at the end of it.
The Candystripes' off-season transfer business is evidence they are targeting bigger prizes than the President's Cup this year but scalping Shamrock Rovers was a nice way to show Tiernan Lynch's array of new signings are settling in quickly.
McClean, who arrived from Wrexham in mid January, set up Darragh Markey (brought in from Drogheda United) for a quality winning goal.
In total, Lynch started six of his eight new signings, but McClean is unquestionably the highest-profile addition.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport's Tony O'Donoghue, the 36-year-old aired his satisfaction with the victory while acknowledging the serious stuff starts next week, when Derry begin their league campaign at home to Sligo Rovers.
"It's obviously nice," he said of lifting the President'sCup.
"Winning matches is what it's all about, isn't it? We've got bigger aspirations this season, but it's always nice to start with silverware, especially against a team that are seen as probably the favourites for the league this year. They're the team to beat because they're the reigning champions.
"To come here on their turf and get a win, I think it's a nice statement, but at the end of the day, there's a long way to go. We'll enjoy it tonight. But it's nice to get the win to start."
Derry City publicly thanked the FAI and Shamrock Rovers for switching the President's Cup to a Saturday fixture out of respect to the Bloody Sunday families. It was the 54th anniversary of the atrocity on Friday.
On the pitch, the game had much more spice than a run-of-the-mill friendly. It was combative fare, with a sense that the two sides expect to be duking it out with each other for the big prizes later in the year.
"I thought the new signings showed quality and real energy," said McClean. "But in the same sense, we've had a lot of one-on-ones. We've got to be more clinical.
"We restricted Rovers to maybe a bit of the ball, but very few clear-cut chances where we had all clear-cut chances. That's the next step now. If you want to go and win a league title, you've got to be ruthless and take those."
McClean was deployed as a defensive midfielder, admitting he's going to need time to get to grips with the role if that's where Lynch wants to use him. Overall though, the 103-times-capped Republic of Ireland international was upbeat about the team's prospects for the season ahead.
"It's something new," he said of his position. "I've played in midfield before, but higher up. It's something I'm obviously going to have to get used to. I'll work hard at it, I'll grow into the role and I'll learn it. It was a nice start.
"This is the first time the lads are playing with each other and getting to know each other. It's not a bad start.
"It's been a bit stressful moving house. Erin (his wife) and the wee uns, three of them are coming back next week. When that's back, it really will feel like home again. So far, so good."
