Shamrock Rovers kept their title hopes alive after a comprehensive 2-0 victory over Bohemians at Dalymount Park.
An early goal gave Rovers the perfect start thanks to a close-range effort from midfielder Danny O'Connor.
The Hoops doubled the lead thanks to a well-taken, back-post volley by striker Tadhg Purcell, which sealed it for the visitors.
Pat Scully's young side find themselves just five points behind leaders Drogheda United with the top two set to meet in a few weeks' time at Tolka Park in a game which is live on RTÉ TWO.
A decent crowd turned out to officially welcome in the autumn at the blustery Phibsboro venue.
Rovers flew out of the blocks with revenge on their mind from the earlier league defeat and the League Cup exit at the semi-final stage.
And it paid immediate dividends with O'Connor latching on to a loose ball in the box.
A searching ball from the right side of midfield was met by Andy Myler's glancing header at the edge of the box and O'Connor was first to react, hitting the ball low past the helpless Bohemians keeper.
Rovers sat back and absorbed the home side's pressure, with the Gypsies unlucky not to get a penalty when it looked as though referee Alan Kelly had awarded one, before indicating a free at the edge of the box.
Kelly was just passing the half-way line as Robbie Clarke's sliding tackle took ball and defender, in no particular order, a yard inside the penalty box.
The man in the middle tooted loudly and seemed to charge in the direction of the penalty spot before changing his run to veer towards the spot where the tackle was made.
At the same time, the linesman, no further than fifteen yards from the initial challenge, appeared to be running back towards the half-way line, thinking that a goal-kick had been awarded.
Both sides felt aggrieved as the free from the edge of the box failed to threaten the Hoops goal.
A misplaced Jason McGuinness cross-field ball was intercepted by John Martin, who skipped through two advancing Bohs players before unleashing a drive goal-bound with the keeper beaten.
The shot, however, was just off-target and just as it looked like it would fly past the post and wide, Purcell came steaming in at the back post to send the ball flying into the empty net.
Andy Myler should have made it three for the Hoops, but failed when one-on-one with the keeper, but it didn't matter to the travelling Hoops who were more than happy with their night's endeavours.
