A Mark Quigley hat-trick gave second-place St Patrick's Athletic a victory over their nearest rival Derry City tonight putting Super Saints five points clear of the Foylesiders.
The 0-3 scoreline at the Brandywell, which could prove crucial in the chase to unseat Bohemians atop the Premier league, was all the more remarkable for the fact that Quigley scored all the goals in a fairly even contest in the second half.
His first came after 50 minutes when Glen Fitzpatrick centred for Quigley fire in from close range.
The close encounter resumed until the 85th minute when a howler of a back pass from centre half Clive Delaney forced his keeper Gerard Doherty into a hurried clearance which rebounded off the onrushing Quigley, who then slid the ball into an untended net.
The PFAI young player of the year secured the match ball three minutes later with a neat finish after getting behind an over-committed Derry rearguard.
The Candystripes defeat saw them relinquish third place to Cork City on goal difference after Alan Matthews's side continued their hot streak with a comfortable 2-0 away win against UCD.
Dave Mooney scored both goals tonight making it his third brace in consecutive games and puts him on 11 goals out of 16 games this season.
The defeat for the Students sees them drop back into the relegation places after Finn Harps 1-0 win tonight win over Bray Wanderers.
In the only other game of the evening, an injury-ravaged Drogheda United survived a late flurry from Galway United at Terryland Park to win 1-0. Ollie Cahill scored in the 57th minute after good work from Sami Ristilla leaving Galwa firmly rooted at the bottom of the table.
Bohemians, who take a 5-0 lead into the second leg of the Intertoto Cup against Welsh outfit Rhyl Town tomorrow, now have a game in hand on the chasing pack but St Pats have cut the lead to two points with Cork and Derry five points further back.
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