A clinical first half display saw St Patrick's Athletic move to within four points of Bohemians at the top of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division as they claimed their fourth successive win after an electrifying Dublin derby.
A manic first period saw goals from Eoin Doyle, Jason McClelland and Mark Doyle cancel out an early Adam McDonnell stunner before Bohs were left with a mountain to climb after Jordan Flores was dismissed for a chop on Jamie Lennon.
Substitute Dean Williams gave the hosts hope after the hour, but they were unable to complete the comeback despite Tom Lonergan being sent off late on for Pats.
The Saints returned to Phibsborough for the first time since hammering the final nail into Keith Long's Bohemians reign and they struck another blow in Dublin 7, handing the Gypsies their second successive home defeat.
After a brace of Dean Lyness saves from Flores and Dylan Connolly, Bohs early pressure told in the 14th minute when McDonnell lashed in a thunderous volley into the bottom corner from outside the box after plucking Jonathan Afolabi’s blocked effort from the sky.
'We are top of the league’ chants from the Jodi were soon mocked as the game turned on its head in a crazy few minutes.
Chris Forrester appeared to level in bizarre circumstances after his near post corner evaded James Talbot, but St Pat's manager Tim Clancy later clarified that Eoin Doyle got a touch on the ball on its way in.
The packed away Mono Stand had barely put their pyro away before their side hit the net again. Skipper Anto Breslin whipped in a wicked ball on a sixpence for McClelland to notch his second in four starts.
Doyle made it three on the half hour as he forced home a rebound after Talbot had produced a superb save from Eoin Doyle.
'Top of the league, you’re having a laugh’ echoed the jubilant Pats faithful.
A manic game that could have been any score. Doyle missed a sitter, but Bohs did little with their reprieve and Flores was shown a red before the break.
Frustrations ran high as a pulsating first half was brought to a close.
Declan Devine made a triple substitution and two of them combined to give Bohs a lifeline after the hour.
James Clarke found Williams after a lung busting run and he finished superbly for his second goal in as many games.
Seconds later Lyness stood firm to deny Connolly an unlikely leveller before Eoin Doyle almost quashed the grand finale after he flashed a shot narrowly wide with twenty to play.
Pats were comfortable and saw off a late flurry of Bohs pressure as they continued their revival.
Bohemians: James Talbot, Jay Benn (Twardek 58), Paddy Kirk, Grant Horton, Jordan Flores, Declan McDaid (Williams 58), Jonathan Afolabi, Dylan Connolly (O’Sullivan 71), Kacper Radkowski, Keith Buckley, Adam McDonnell (Clarke 58)
St Patrick’s Athletic: Dean Lyness, Sam Curtis, Anto Breslin, Noah Lewis, Jay McGrath, Jamie Lennon (Carty 75), Chris Forrester, Adam Murphy (Kreida 66), Jason McClelland (Timmermans), Mark Doyle (Lonergan 83), Eoin Doyle (Atakayi 83)
