Ger Rowe's injury-time winner was enough to give Shamrock Rovers all three points as the Hoops beat Sligo Rovers 1-0 at Tolka Park.
Extensive work had been done on the Tolka Park surface since Rovers last home game but it still left a lot to be desired with parts of the playing surface covered in sand.
Sligo striker Matthew Judge had to leave the pitch after five minutes for a couple of stitches after getting hit by the ball full force in the face.
Rovers started brightest, but it was the visitors who managed the only shot on goal in the first 15 minutes but it was straight at Barry Murphy, who dealt with it comfortably.
However, Rovers dominated the opening half-hour and Andy Myler came closest to scoring in the 18th minute, his glancing header well saved by Tomislav Arcaba.
Then Seamus Coleman headed clear off the visitors' goal-line in the 23rd minute with a brave header, the right-back taking a smack in the face from the post for his troubles.
In the 62nd minute, David Cassidy nearly put Rovers ahead with a long-range effort that just flew wide of Arcaba's post.
Substitute Tadhg Purcell caused the Sligo defence plenty of problems as Rovers went in search of a winner, getting plenty of support from Cassidy and fellow sub, David McGill on the right-hand side.
And in the 82nd minute, Rowe raced cleared on the right wing and slid the ball across the six-yard box but Purcell couldn't connect and David O'Connor smashed the ball high over the bar to waste a glorious chance to win the game.
Deep into injury time Rowe struck the winner, a sweet left-footed strike from the edge of the box that Arcaba could only get fingertips to.
A mass brawl broke out on the final whistle resulting in red cards for Rovers' Dan O'Connor and Sligo's Piotr Bajdziak.
