Saint Patrick's Athletic's championship dream is still mathematically alive thanks to a narrow win over Finn Harps at Finn Park.
However, the reality is that Bohemians are still on track to lift the title, but they will have to wait another week at least as a result of Johnny McDonnell's side's success against a Harps outfit that are still not safe from the drop.
Having already thumped Harps 5-1 in Inchicore and 3-0 in Ballybofey earlier in the season, the Saints will have had little in the way of pre-match fears about this encounter.
The only real question was how much their European exploits against Hertha Berlin had taken out of them in mid-week, and how they would react.
Harps, meanwhile, went into the game bidding to put their off field financial problems aside, and were probably of the belief beforehand that even a point would represent a good result for them in their battle to keep above the relegation zone.
The Dubliners shaded a tight opening quarter, although scoring chances were at a premium.
Harps had a scare on ten minutes when defender Aaron Labonte looked on in anguish as a header clipped the crossbar.
Glen Fitzpatrick was then nearly in as the Harps defence looked suspect, while at the other end Conor Gethins saw a weak shot deflect off Jason Gavin for a corner.
Gethins and Breen combined on a number of occasions for the home side as the interval approached. Indeed, Breen will feel he could well have scored, having had one shot just wide, one saved and one blocked.
But it was the visitors who went closest to breaking the deadlock in what was a relatively subdued first half.
With 43 minutes gone, Keith Fahey was fouled by Shaun McGowan outside the box. Fahey struck the resulting free well, only to see it fly just outside the post.
St Pat's took the lead on 50 minutes when Fahey slipped the ball through to Mark Quigley inside the Harps box, and he turned well before shooting low past James Gallagher.
And four minutes later it could have been two after Ryan Guy snaked his way into the Harps box before being taken down by Declan Boyle. However, Quigley's penalty was saved by Gallagher.
The miss lifted the home support, and Harps responded with Neil McCafferty producing a decent shot not far off the target.
But gradually St Pat's got back on top with Guy twice going close, only to be denied on both occasions by an increasingly busy Gallagher.
Harps pushed hard late on in a bid to try and salvage a point - and had a late penalty plea turned down - but this defeat means they are still hovering just above the relegation zone.
Finn Harps: Gallagher, Mukendi, Minnock, Labonte, Boyle, McCafferty, Funston (Friel 70), McGowan, Beckett (Tyrell 63), Gethins, Breen (Malcolm 85).
St Pat's: Ryan, Lynch, Fahey, Quigley, Fitzpatrick, Harris, Dempsey, Gavin, Guy, O'Brien (Kirby 85), Rogers.
Referee: T Connolly (Westmeath).
