In a week in which they may have felt the weight of the world was on their shoulders, St Patrick's summoned some inner strength to win a thoroughly absorbing match and thus rejoin Cork City at the top of the table.
Reeling from the harsh sending off of defender Stephen McGuinness in the 70th minute, the home side's riposte was of the most telling kind: Ian Gilzean rose superbly to head home a Martin Russell free-kick just three minutes later.
In a thrilling first-half the only pity at the half-time whistle was that the score remained 0-0.
An eighth-minute gaff by Derry goalkeeper David Platt almost gifted St Patrick's a bizarre lead. Platt inexplicably allowed Trevor Croly's low cross to slip through his hands and legs, and he was greatly relieved to see the ball trickle out for a corner.
Platt redeemed himself with a peerless performance for the rest of the half, twice racing from his line to clear from Trevor Molloy while also making a good stop to deprive Gilzean after a quickly taken free-kick from Russell on 33 minutes.
But there was much more to a hugely entertaining first 45 minutes, not least a stunning, one-handed save by St Patrick's goalkeeper Trevor Wood from Michael McHugh's close-range volley on 25 minutes.
There was skill aplenty too, particularly from under-21 outcast Molloy who ghosted past two defenders to set up Gilzean whose shot was blocked by Hargan.
It was far from one-way traffic, and Derry wasted perhaps the best chance in first-half injury time; McCann, unmarked, headed wide after Liam Coyle's genius set him up.
Platt began the second-half as he did the first when taking his eye off the ball to hand St Patrick's a goal by spilling Gormley's shot. Again, however, he redeemed himself by bravely diving at Molloy's feet to gather the rebound.
The excitement fell away until the 70th minute when Hargan appeared to make a little too much of a dubious challenge from McGuinness. Referee Gerry Perry played a Derry advantage before returning to book McGuinness, who, having been yellow carded in the first-half, had to go.
Wood produced one more stunning, save to keep out a 25-yard free-kick from Paul Hegarty five minutes from time. Few in the crowd would argue that justice was not done.
St Patrick's Athletic: Wood; McGuinness, Burke, Hawkins; Croly, Gormley, Russell, Osam, Doyle; Molloy, Gilzean. Subs: Long for Gormley (83 mins), Morgan for Russell (90 mins).
Derry City: Platt; D Kelly, Curran, Hutton, Hargan; Beckett, Doherty, Hegarty, McCann; L Coyle, McHugh. Subs: McCallion for Beckett (inj, half-time), McCaul for Coyle (81 mins).
Referee: G Perry (Dublin).
