Shamrock Rovers 0 St Patrick's Athletic 1: In his more high-profile position of team manager at the club over a 10-year period, Brian Kerr, St Patrick's director of football, was fully conscious of the need to do well in the Dublin derbies if the league was to be won.
With a win at Bohemians already secured, current manager John McDonnell, Kerr's captain for the second of his titles 12 years ago, will doubtless concur as his side went four points clear at the top after a second away derby success of the season at Tolka Park.
It was three points St Patrick's had to grind out, though, as they rode their luck early on before punishing a mistake. However, the result was harsh on a reinvigorated Rovers, without a win now in four games, as they finished with 10 men.
Rovers, with captain Aidan Price back in their side after a 10-month lay-off with a foot injury, started well last night and might have been in front after just two minutes. Darragh Maguire won a header from Ger O'Brien's long free-kick to set up Tadhg Purcell. The ball bounced up just a fraction too high for the striker whose weak hook was parried by Barry Ryan before being cleared.
Still missing the injured Joe O'Cearuill and David Partridge, and forced into an early change at left-back, St Patrick's were unsure in defence and survived a dreadful miss on 14 minutes.
Stephen Rice's sublime ball picked out the run of left winger Seán O'Connor, but he blazed his volley over from eight yards.
It was a miss Rovers would rue as they gifted St Patrick's what proved their match-winning goal on 26 minutes. Goalkeeper Barry Murphy uncharacteristically failed to catch Stephen Brennan's lofted ball into his area under pressure from Damien Lynch. The ball fell loose and the St Patrick's captain reacted quickest to drill home with his left foot to the delight of the away fans behind the goal.
If that was ridiculous, Ryan provided the sublime at the other end four minutes before the break with an amazing one-handed save to palm away Maguire's top-corner bound header from Alan Murphy's corner.
The second half was a big disappointment on the first 45 minutes. Scully brought on Padraig Amond and went two up front just after the hour mark to try to reignite his side, but it never materialised, succeeding merely in surrendering midfield as Keith Fahey finally got on the ball for St Patrick's.
Danny O'Connor shot wide after good work from Baker and O'Brien on 72 minutes to register the closest Rovers came to equalising.
Referee Alan Kelly sent off Danny O'Connor on 85 minutes for a challenge on Guy, his second booking.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: B Murphy; G O'Brien, Maguire, Price, Flynn; D O'Connor; Baker, A Murphy (Amond, 62 mins.), Rice (Doyle, 90+1 mins), S O'Connor (McGill, 76 mins); Purcell.
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Barry Ryan; Lynch, Brennan, Paisley, Frost (Kirby, 7 mins); Guy, Fahey, Dempsey, Byrne; O'Neill (Fitzpatrick, 90 mins), Quigley.
Referee: A Kelly (Cork).