An injury-time winner secured a thrilling comeback victory for St Patrick's Athletic over Dublin rivals Shamrock Rovers at a sold-out Richmond Park.
With Brandon Kavanagh ready to power home from an Axel Sjoberg cross, Dylan Watts’ unlucky leg turned the ball into his Hoops net.
It looked as if both sides were going to have to be content with a point after Ruairi Keating cancelled out Johnny Kenny’s opener for the visitors.
But there was a sting in the tail as the Saints claimed a vital win, sparking joyous scenes at the full-time whistle.
Coming into the game on the back of a wretched run that included one win in eight, Stephen Kenny’s Saints made three swaps from their scoreless draw against Drogheda United.
And Rovers made four from their most recent league outing - also against Drogs - with deputy keeper Lee Steacy picked to start instead of the injured Leon Pohls.
Steacy was at the forefront of the early action as he clattered into Mason Melia from a Jake Mulraney cross - with referee Damien MacGraith waving away the penalty protests.
Rovers had their own penalty claim minutes later after Neil Farrugia looked to have been hauled down by Luke Turner after cutting back and priming himself to shoot but it was waved away by MacGraith.
Melia then went close on the quarter hour but he could direct a cross from Mulraney just wide after some good play in the middle from the hosts.
St Pat’s were motoring well at this point and should have scored in the 20th minute if not for some heroic defending from Hoops defender Josh Honohan who blocked two goalbound efforts from Romal Palmer and Melia after some fine wing play from Kian Leavy.
But Rovers soon found their groove and caused no end of trouble for the hosts down the left flank - with Turner enduring a wretched time trying to contain Farrugia.
The makeshift Saints left-back was beaten easily by Farrugia for the Rovers opener, as he twisted and turned before dragging the ball back to Johnny Kenny who scored with ease.
Farrugia created another golden opportunity two minutes after the Hoops’ scored, dragging the ball back to Aaron Greene - only for Lennon to bravely dive in front of the ball to clear the danger.
The Athletic, however, had a chance to level proceedings before the break but Grivosti could only send his glancing header straight at Steacy who collected easily.
St Pat’s regained the initiative after the break and should have levelled just six minutes into the second half but Mulraney horribly shot over the bar with the goal at his mercy.
Axel Sjoberg crossed for Mulraney with Steacy getting down well to deny the Saints winger as the game approached the hour.
The Saints thought they levelled through sub Keating but he was adjudged to have been offside after finding the net following a cross from Leavy.
But they did not have to wait too long before they equalised when Keating pounced on a mistake from Steacy when playing out to score a deserved goal.
📹 | Ruairi Keating capitalises on some sloppy play and the Saints are level!
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) June 13, 2024
PAT 1-1 SHA #LOITV | #PATSHA pic.twitter.com/Q32qbVo1w5
And there was still time for a Saints winner in injury time when Watts looked to have turned into his own net from a devilish cross into the box from Sjoberg - despite the presence of Kavanagh.
It was the sweetest of sweet winners for Stephen Kenny who got one over on his former side.
St Patrick’s Athletic: Danny Rogers; Axel Sjoberg, Joe Redmond, Tom Grivosti, Luke Turner (Jason McClelland, 55); Jamie Lennon, Chris Forrester, Romal Palmer (Ruairi Keating, 60); Kian Leavy, Jake Mulraney; Mason Melia (Brandon Kavanagh, 89).
Shamrock Rovers: Lee Steacy; Josh Honohan (Richie Towell, 42), Roberto Lopes, Lee Grace (Conan Noonan, 80); Neil Farrugia, Dylan Watts, Darragh Nugent, Markus Poom (Cory O’Sullivan, 72); Graham Burke (Jack Byrne, 80); Johnny Kenny, Aaron Greene.
Referee: Damien MacGraith.
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