ALL week Shamrock Rovers listened to jibes about how tired they looked, but nobody can question their appetite for the fight.
The Hoops came alive at a rocking Tallaght Stadium and launched a remarkable comeback to fillet one of the league’s form sides in ruthless and brutal fashion.
And in doing so, coupled with Derry City only banking a point at home to Shelbourne, the champions made giant strides towards regaining their title.
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Derry - who face Rovers here next Sunday - must now win away to Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds on Monday night, otherwise it’s over.
Initially, this night threatened to get away from Stephen Bradley’s charges after the sloppy concession of a fourth-minute opener to Serge Atakayi.
But in a game where the entertainment levels were off the charts, the Rovers response was both impressive and relentless and had the fans singing about ‘that’s why we’re champions’
Graham Burke equalised from the penalty spot before Daniel Cleary put the Hoops ahead in the dying moments of the first-half.
Sean Hoare stretched that lead nine minutes into the second-half before Alan Mannus saved a Tunde Owolabi penalty while Burke then scored his second spot kick.
To compound the Saints misery, Anto Breslin was sent off with 15 minutes to play for handling Andy Lyons' shot on the line for that penalty after misjudging his initial headed clearance
Arriving here having won seven of their previous nine games, Saints were determined to blow the title race wide open as they pursued their own European ambitions.
And Atakayi did silence a raucous crowd with that opening goal.
Hoare should have cleared Sam Curtis’ low cross, but fresh-aired the attempt and Atakayi couldn’t believe his luck as he finished unmarked at the back post.
But St Pat’s failed to capitalise on that advantage.
Initially, they were happy to let Rovers have the ball as the Hoops were making hard work of attacks that lacked penetration.
At times all the hosts were missing was last gasp connections as Burke and Lyons both lurked with intent at the back post on separate moves.
The ball just wouldn’t fall their way - but then Rovers upped the ante and cashed in by transforming their possession for something far more tangible.
Joe Redmond clipped Burke with a clumsy challenge in the box when latching onto a Lyons ball and Burke equalised from the spot.
It was just the tonic for the three-in-a-row chasing champions who kicked on again - and never looked back.
