Noah Lewis proved St Patrick's Athletic's unlikely super-sub with the defender scoring a brace as they breezed to victory at the UCD Bowl.
Incredibly, the crossbar then deprived the Dutchman of a hat-trick right at the death.
A fifth win in six games under new manager Jon Daly maintains the Inchicore side's good form as they further consolidate fourth place in the table.
In conceding all three goals from corners, it proved another evening to forget for beleaguered UCD.
A sixth straight defeat sees the Students slump 12 points adrift at the foot of the table.
With five changes from their win over Dundalk last week, three of which were enforced, St Pat’s started positively, taking the lead from their third corner of the game on seven minutes.
Conor Carty started where he left off last Friday, when scoring the winner against Dundalk, to rise unchallenged to meet Ben McCormack’s delivery and head home.
Dominant Saints should have doubled that within three minutes when McCormack picked out Jay McClelland with a sublime diagonal ball.
The former Student took it first time only to volley straight at goalkeeper Lorcan Healy who batted it away.
UCD worked hard to get a foothold in the game and spurned a real chance to level on 19 minutes. Brendan Barr found Jake Doyle in the area with the striker getting turned to bring a fine save with his feet from Dean Lyness.
Nine minutes later St Pat’s spurned another chance to extend their lead.
Defender Jay McGrath’s long ball over the top found the well-timed run of skipper Chris Forrester who, onside, shot wide of the far post when he knew he should have scored.
McClelland soon got another sight of goal with Healy getting down well to save the low drive.
A bittersweet few moments then brought St Pat’s a second goal on 42 minutes.
Just on the field following another defensive injury in replacing McGarth, Lewis out-jumped Doyle at the back post to nod in McCormack’s corner, St Pat’s sixth goal of the night, with his first touch in the game.
And Lewis was there again to ignite a dour second half on 63 minutes.
Once more UCD didn’t deal with McCormack's corner. Lewis rose above a defender at the back post to head to the net.
McCormack somehow failed to add another goal five minutes later, inexplicably shooting against a post with the goal gaping from Carty’s cross.
Substitute Danu Kinsella-Bishop gave UCD some consolation with a well-taken goal on 86 minutes.
The frame of the goal then deprived Lewis of his hat-trick in stoppage time, another header from McCormack's corner shaving the crossbar.
UCD: Lorcan Healy; Daniel Babb (Alex Nolan 75), Harvey O’Brien (Luke O’Regan h-t), Adam Wells, Evan Osam; Brendan, Barr; Ciaran Behan, Dara Keane, Colin Bolton (Michael Gallagher h-t), Danny Norris (Harry O’Connor 75); Jake Doyle (Danu Kinsella-Bishop 59).
St Patrick’s Athletic: Dean Lyness; Harry Brockbank (Thijs Timmermans, 61), Sam Curtis, Jay McGrath (Noah Lewis 40), Anto Breslin; Jamie Lennon (Serge Atakayi 73); Jay McClelland (Tommy Lonergan 61), Adam Murphy (Mason Melia 73), Chris Forrester, Ben McCormack; Conor Carty.
Referee: Gavin Colfer (Wicklow).
