Derry City - 1 Cork City - 0: Stephen Kenny ended his tenure at the Brandywell on a winning note against Cork City but, unfortunately for Derry City it was not enough to win the league title, with Shelbourne securing the top honour on goal difference following their victory over Bohemians at Tolka Park.
Predictably, it proved a highly emotional evening for Kenny who was cheered off the pitch by 5,000 fans.
He now turns his attentions to the Scottish Premier Division and his appointment as manager of Dunfermline Athletic.
The Dubliner leaves Derry this morning to watch Dunfermline entertain Dundee United but he's expected to return to Derry next week to help the club prepare for the cup final against St Patrick's Athletic.
In what was a bridge too far, Derry played their part with Kenny opting to remain loyal to the team which secured 1-0 victories on their recent trips to St Patrick's Athletic and Waterford United.
And it was Derry who produced the first threat on goal in the ninth minute.
Ruaidhri Higgins floated a free-kick into the penalty area and when Clive Delaney sent a looping header on target, the back-peddling Cork goalkeeper, Michael Devine, did particularly well to finger-tip the effort over his crossbar.
The home side continued to press and they were rewarded two minutes later.
As was the case in those two previous away games, Mark Farren came to the fore when he scored the opening goal.
Barry Molloy played an incisive pass forward from inside his own half, and after Farren's electrifying pace saw him beat goalkeeper Devine to the loose ball, the striker coolly took his time by side-stepping a defender before drilling low into the unguarded Cork City net.
Cork went close to restoring equality in the first minute of the second half following a Neale Fenn free kick, but central defender Alan Bennett flashed his volley over the crossbar at the back post.
Cork's involvement increased, with Roy O'Donovan testing Derry goalkeeper David Forde from long range two minutes later.
Nerves were evident in the Derry City dugout, and referee Dave McKeon was summoned by his fourth official, Paul Deering. Their consultation resulted in the sending-off of the home side's assistant manager, Paul Hegarty.
But the home side threatened again in the 67th minute when a deep cross by Killian Brennan saw Farren's downward header fail to extend the alert Devine at his near post.
After the final whistle, attention was diverted to Tolka Park, but Kenny's final farewell was dampened. The Brandywell faithful certainly acknowledged his leadership afterwards, remaining in place for 15 minutes after the final whistle.
In his final season in charge, Derry secured qualification for the Uefa Cup for the second successive year, and can look forward to the FAI Cup final against St Patrick's on December 3rd at Lansdowne Road.
DERRY CITY: Forde; McCallion, Delaney, Hutton, Brennan; Deery, Higgins (Martyn, 60 mins), Molloy, McCourt (Hargan, 91 mins); Beckett (McGlynn, 88 mins), Farren.
CORK CITY: Devine; Horgan, Bennett, Murray, Murphy; Cillian Lordan (Behan, 88 mins), O'Callaghan, Softic (Cathal Lordan, 83 mins), Woods; Fenn, O'Donovan.
Referee: D McKeown (Dublin)
