JAKE MULRANEY scored a deadly double as St Pat’s handed Shamrock Rovers their worst defeat of the season.
A third win over the champions this term yielded a fourth straight victory for Saints and a fifth in six matches for Stephen Kenny’s rejuvenated outfit.
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The result edges the Inchicore side into contention for European qualification.
Though they lie sixth, five points off third, St Pat’s have a game in hand on the teams immediately above them with five games left.
Slumping to their heaviest defeat of the season, it was another huge missed opportunity for Rovers, when leaders Shelbourne were held scoreless by Sligo Rovers at Tolka Park and second-placed Derry City lost in Drogheda.
Stephen Bradley’s Hoops remain third, but are five points off Shels following a display they will need to forget ahead of their opening Conference League group phase game against Apoel of Cyprus next Thursday.
Unchanged from the 3-0 win over Waterford last week, in-form St Pat’s delighted their 1,300-strong following to a dream start.
Kenny’s side went ahead after just 42 seconds and led by two goals inside 12 minutes.
For the opener, Saints skipper Joe Redmond outfoxed marker Josh Honohan to get to the back post to meet Mulraney’s corner and force the ball over the line.
Redmond showed his defensive quality to prevent a Rovers equaliser two minutes later.
Danny Mandroiu latched on to a loose pass from Axel Sjoberg to slip the ball to Graham Burke. And though the Hoops attacker nutmegged Tom Grivosti, his central defensive partner Redmond got across to block Burke’s shot for a corner.
An injury to Honohan forced Rovers to introduce Darragh Burns after eight minutes.
But it got no better for the champions as St Pat’s doubled their lead from a brilliant counter-attack after Joseph Anang had made a comfortable save from Burke.
Mason Melia cleverly spun Hoops skipper Roberto Lopes on halfway to find Zach Elbouzedi on the right. The cross picked out Mulraney at the back post.
And though Lee Grace did well to block the initial shot, the ball came back to Mulraney who curled a stunning right-footer to the top corner.
Rovers keeper Leon Pohls prevented St Pat’s from extending that lead as Rovers were again shockingly exposed at the back.
Brandon Kavanagh sent Mulraney away on the left with the winger outpacing Dan Cleary to cross. And though Pohls made a terrific save with his feet, Elbouzedi will know he should have scored.
Despite over 60 per cent possession, it was the 41st minute before Rovers really worked Anang, who tipped a Burke shot over the bar.
Rovers chased the game from the resumption with Burke again bringing a couple of saves from Anang either side of Grace heading into the side-netting.
But Saints weathered the storm and extended their lead on 59 minutes.
Collecting Kavanagh’s pass on the right, Mulraney skipped all too easily inside Grace before shooting past Pohls for a composed finish.
SUN STAR MAN: Jake Mulraney (St Pat’
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Pohls 7; Cleary 6, Lopes 6, Grace 6; Farrugia 6, O’Neill 6 (Towell 71, 6), Watts 6 (Poom 71, 6), Mandroiu 6 (Greene 71, 6), Honohan 6 (Burns 8, 6); Burke 7 (Kavanagh 87, 6); McNulty 6.
ST PAT’S: Anang 8; Sjoberg 7, Redmond 8, Grivosti 7, Breslin 7 (Kazeem 85, 6); Lennon 7, Forrester 7; Elbouzedi 7 (Turner 85, 6), B Kavanagh 7 (Leavy 72, 6), Mulraney 9 (McClelland 85, 6); Melia 7 (Keena 78, 6).
REFEREE: R Harvey (Dublin) 6.
