St Patrick’s Athletic threw the league race wide open and secured three vital points with a surprise 3-1 win over league leaders Bohemians at Inchicore.

Three goals in the second half gave Pat’s a 3-1 lead before Owen Heary grabbed a consolation goal for the League of Ireland champions in the 85th minute.

Jeff Kenna, the St Pat’s manager, has had to deal with a mini injury crisis in recent weeks but his makeshift side, which adopted a defensive approach, upset the formbook to secure three points that will ease the pressure on the former Ireland international after a string of poor results.

Killian Brennan came closest to giving Bohemians the lead but his free-kick from under the main stand drifted just wide of Gary Rogers’ right post.

Graham Carey was next to have a go: the on-loan winger skipped past Noel Haverty on the left flank, but the Blanchardstown man screwed his shot wide when Jason Byrne was better placed in the box.

Kenna’s side, a little against the run of play it must be said, had their own chance to open the scoring when makeshift striker Jamie Harris headed a long ball down for John Lester, who struck the ball sweetly on the volley only to see his shot fly over Barry Ryan’s crossbar.

Ryan Guy, Pats’ Californian winger, then profited from a superb through ball, slipped behing Anto Murphy and fired a superb shot that had Brian Murphy worried before the ball flashed just over.

The game had a niggly undercurrent and the unpleasantness came to the surface just before the break when Jason Gavin upended Brennan on the Camac side of the ground. Gavin, somewhat inexplicably, took umbrage with the Bohemians’ winger’s reaction and both players were booked for their trouble.

The game burst into life after 53 minutes when Lester swung a free into the box and the ball fell to Guy, who drove the ball past Brian Murphy for his first league goal of the season.

Just when everyone was expecting a backlash from the champions and Premier Division league leaders, the home side scored a second. Again, the goal when Bohemians failed to clear the ball in defence, and centre-back Gavin, who was lurking inside the box to sidefoot home through Haverty’s legs.

Eight minutes later, Lester, the former Galway United defender, proved he can do a job at midfield, when he scored a goal of the season contender with a brilliantly-struck volley. Harris was the provider again, his cushioned header setting up Lester, arrowed the ball to the top corner from 25 yards.

Bohemians managed a consolation goal with five minutes left on the clock, when Heary headed a Brennan corner to the back of the net.

However, the Saints held out well in the final minutes for a thoroughly deserved and massively valuable three points.

Next Fixture

vs DROGHEDA UNITED

Date: June 12th (7:45pm)
Competition: League
Venue: Richmond Park
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Team	Pld	Pts
Shamrock Rovers	20	40
Bohemian FC	20	34
St Patrick's Athletic	19	32
Dundalk	19	29
Shelbourne	19	26
Derry City	20	22
Galway United	18	21
Drogheda United	19	21
Sligo Rovers	19	19
Waterford FC	19	11