Declan Devine got the response he might merely have conjured in dreams, as the under-pressure Bohemians boss watching his side surprise a disappointing Saint Patrick's to avenge their FAI Cup final defeat in gutsy style.
A cold night in Inchicore will be recalled by the capacity crowd more due to flares than flair as a forgettable stalemate seemed likely, only for Jordan Flores' penalty after Marcelo Pitaluga was deemed to trip Dayle Rooney decided matters with 11 minutes to go.
The expectation was that Pat's would be the better side but they were so in patches at best and Bohs, with four points from their opening two games, will wonder what all the negativity was about. It promises to be one hell of a Premier Division in 2024.
It had been a madcap 24 hours for Bohs on the transfer front. They signed Hull City defender Jevon Mills, fellow defender Luke Matheson on loan from Bolton, Polish striker Filip Piszczek and Aboubacar Keita from MLS outfit Colorado Rapids on deadline day.
Mills and Piszczek started on the bench, with Bohs reeling from the horrific injury suffered by defensive talisman Rob Cornwall against Sligo on week one. They started with Jordan Flores, a midfielder, and Cian Byrne centre-back.
With the smoke of the flares engulfing Richmond Park, Kian Leavy looked as though he'd lost control but, recovering, got space and struck a powerful effort over Kacper Chorazka's bar in the opening minute.
Chris Forrester was enjoying himself and dinked an effort 13 minutes in, aiming for the top corner, that did not unduly bother the Polish stopper.
Midway through the first half, there were groans from the home crowd, as the visiting fans grew in voice, with neither side establishing supremacy. Then beautiful poise and control from Jake Mulraney preceded a slide-rule pass for Ruairi Keating, who forced a decent save from Chorazka.
Saints were suddenly on top, Jamie Lennon dictating, and Forrester curled a 25-yard effort wide to warm the crowd on a chilly evening by the Camac.
Bohs had no foothold but Paddy Kirk flashed a shot at the highly regarded Liverpool loanee Pitaluga on 35 minutes to remind him of their threat.
Leavy was outstanding for Saints and curled a lovely ball into the box with two minutes left to half-time that had Bohs in a panic.
Then, the moment of the half – at its conclusion. Bohs broke from a Saints corner and the classy James Clarke sensed the pace of Dylan Connolly, who worked the space and had Pitaluga beaten, but broke the hearts of the away fans before him as his shot went narrowly wide.
At the start of the second half, all manner of mayhem – all at the away end. A flurry of flares met the pitch in reckless disregard for the safety of the players. Both of the goalkeepers, new to the league, were wrapped in conversation as the players were hauled off the pitch briefly. Unsightly and unsavoury.
A truly sensational Joe Redmond pass had Forrester in but, of all players, he failed to control one-on-one as play resumed.
All in all, as the game entered the final quarter, the home fans were frustrated in a stalemate of few chances. As such, home boss Jon Daly hauled off defender Conor Keeley and brought in playmaker Brandon Kavanagh to arrest the tide.
Leavy, however, remained most lively, and he just failed to connect with a brilliant Keating cross with 15 minutes to go. The big moment of the game – and by far the most controversial in terms of the football – had everyone talking.
Redmond under-hit a back pass to Pitaluga, who was probably surprised by Dayle Rooney's burst of pace but still seemed to connect with the ball. Rooney's reaction implied the Liverpool loanee connected with him, and Robbie Hennessy soon pointed to the spot and booked a bewildered Pitaluga.
There was little doubt that Flores would slot it away; more telling was his rush to the dugout to embrace an under-pressure coaching staff, with his team-mates joining in gleefully.
Saints fans then screamed for a penalty as Michael Lilander, who did well, collided with substitute Mason Melia; Hennessy was spot on to wave away. Ten minutes of injury time kept everyone in Richmond Park.
A scramble from a corner apart, Bohs had matters under control.
Saint Patrick's: Pitaluga; Sjoberg (Freeman 90), Redmond, Keeley (B Kavanagh 72), Turner, Breslin; Lennon (C Kavanagh 89), Forrester; Leavy (McClelland 72), Mulraney (Melia 77); Keating.
Bohemians: Chorazka; Lilander, Byrne, Kirk, Flores; Connolly, McManus, McDonnell (Miller 66), Rooney (McDaid 80); Clarke; Reinkort (Pisczek 71).
Referee: Rob Hennessy (Dublin).
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