Dean Larkin scored a hat-trick of headers to lift Wexford FC back into play-off contention as they defeated Finn Harps.
Defender Larkin netted three times in the second half to move Wexford above Finn Harps after claiming a come-from-behind win in Ballybofey.
Harps led through teenager Gavin McAteer, but the night - and possibly their play-off hopes - unravelled in a second half horror show for the Donegal outfit.
Three times Larkin got on the end of Ben McCormack set pieces to bring Wexford within three points of Treaty United.
McAteer is a part of the Republic of Ireland Under-17 squad that has qualified for the World Cup in Qatar later this year and has been tracked by several cross-channel clubs, most notably Nottingham Forest and Celtic.
A scout from Hull City watched here as McAteer drilled Harps in front three minutes into the second half.
McAteer collected a pass from Hans Mpongo just outside the area and delightfully fired in off the inside of the post with his left foot for his first Harps goal.
The lead was short-lived, though, as Larkin rose unmarked to head home from a Ben McCormack corner just eight minutes later.
Harps were rocked by a 3-2 defeat at Bray Wanderers on Friday night in a game they led twice - and they watched in horror again as Wexford took the lead in the 70th minute.
Once again, McCormack was the provider and Larkin headed past a stranded Lorenzo Piaia.
Harps skipper Tony McNamee, playing in his 200th game for the club, smacked wide in the 76th minute as Harps sought a way back.
However, Wexford copper-fastened the win when Larkin headed past Piaia on 81 minutes.
Both teams entered this one trailing fifth-place Treaty by six points and it was a big chance for both to work their way back into play-off contention.
In the 21st minute, Conor Tourish almost knocked Harps in front. Tourish met a Gavin McAteer corner and superbly headed towards the top shelf only for Zayd Abada to clear from beneath the crossbar.
There had been fears that Tourish, who has proven to be a real threat for Harps in both penalty areas this season, had suffered a season-ending injury in Bray, but the Letterkenny man was cleared to play.
In the early exchanges, Harps 'keeper Piaia saved well from Ben McCormack.
At the other end, McAteer drew a fine save out of visiting net-minder Alex Moody. McAteer curled for the far corner from the edge of the box, but Moody beat it away at the expense of a corner.
Approaching half-time, Wexford captain Aaron Dobbs fired wide from outside the area.
Finn Harps: Lorenzo Piaia; Josh Cullen (Shaunie Bradley 83), Max Hutchison, Conor Tourish (Joel Bradley-Walsh 59), Kieran Cooney; Oran Brogan (Gavin Hodgins 83); Aaron McLaughlin (Max Johnston 74), Tony McNamee, Gavin McAteer, Gradi Lomboto; Hans Mpongo.
Wexford FC: Alex Moody; Ryan Butler, Robert McCourt, Dean Larkin, James Crawford; Zayd Abada; Ajibola Oluwabiyi (Calum Flynn 85), Mikie Rowe, Ben McCormack (Muhammad Harris 90), Kaylem Harnett (Conor Levingston 77); Aaron Dobbs.
Referee: Oliver Moran.
In tonight's other First Division game, the bottom two sides, Athlone and Kerry, drew 0-0.
Athlone trailed the Munster side by 13 points pre-match and needed a win to keep alive their incredibly slim chances of overtaking them.
The host were handed a golden chance to take the lead at the start of the second half at Lissywollen, but Darragh Foley denied Billy Gilmore from the penalty spot twice, after the first spot-kick had to be retaken as Foley was adjudged to have been off his line.
Athlone’s Daniel McKenna picked up a second yellow card in the final seconds of the game.
