Trevor Molloy provided some joy at the end of a traumatic season for St Patrick's Athletic with a 71st-minute winner to lift the Leinster Senior Cup at Richmond Park last night.

Molloy, who is likely to be leave the club in the summer, ended a sweeping move when Padraig Drew collected Shane Harte's ball over the top to lay it on a plate for the former under-21 international to tap home.

In the proverbial game of two halves, Rovers had the better of the first and were value for their interval lead.

That came on 38 minutes when Tommy Dunne's super first-time cross ran through to Shane Robinson who picked his spot.

St Patrick's chased the game hard from the resumption and deservedly levelled on the hour when Molloy laid the ball off for captain Martin Russell to score from the edge of the area.

There was an unhappy end to the game for Rovers' striker Brian Byrne, who had had an 82nd-minute goal disallowed for a foul, was then sent-off in the last minute.

St Patrick's Athletic: Hannon; Harte, Prenderville, S McGuinness, Byrne; R McGuinness, Morgan, Russell, Drew; Kelly, Molloy. Subs: McCarthy for R McGuinness (82 mins), McNevin for Drew (87 mins).

Shamrock Rovers: Horgan; Britton, Palmer, Brazil, Dunne; Colwell, Crowley, Tracey, Robinson; Byrne, Stewart. Subs: Deans for Palmer (20 mins), Kenny for Crowley (67 mins), Francis for Colwell (74 mins).

Referee: D McKeon (Dublin).