Saints remained on top but didn't get their second goal until the 89th minute when Brennan scored with a cheeky penalty after Evan McMillan had felled Byrne inside the area.

Minutes earlier Sligo substitute defender Iarfhlaith Davoren had been sent off for a foul on Brennan. St. Pat's remain third in the table, six points behind Sligo, though with a game in hand.

Goals from Barry McNamee and Ryan McBride saw Derry City maintain their terrific start to the season to end Shamrock Rovers' unbeaten record with a 2-1 win at the Brandywell.

The victory, Derry's sixth on the spin, sees them edge to within two points of leaders Sligo.

McNamee put Derry ahead on 51 minutes when looping head beyond Barry Murphy from Paddy McEleney's cross. McNamme turned provider for Derry's second goal on 80 minutes, putting over a free-kick for central defender McBride to head home.

Substitute Stephen Rice got a goal back for Rovers in the final minute with a fine strike from distance after Derry failed to properly clear a corner.

Dundalk leapfrogged Shamrock Rovers into fourth place with an all too comfortable 2-0 win over Bohemians at Dalymount Park, the Louth club's fourth successive away win since the season started.

Tiarnan Mulvenna put Stephen Kenny's side in front on 20 minutes, scooping home the rebound after Bohs' keeper Dean Delany could only parry a free-kick from some 30 yards out by Richie Towell.

Towell then added Dundalk's second goal on 79 minutes when another long distance strike was deflected into the net off defender Roberto Lopes.

Gary O'Neill scored for the third match running as he hit a brace in Drogheda United's 3-2 win over UCD at Hunky Dorys Park as Mick Cooke's side move up to fifth place.

Drogheda were ahead on 21 minutes with O'Neill scoring from close range after Gavin Brennan crossed following a throw in.

Midfielder Brennan then doubled Drogheda's lead in the 32nd minute when his low drive flew into the net off a post as UCD struggled to clear a David Cassidy corner.

UCD hit back six minutes later with Sean Russell getting in down the left to cross for Robbie Benson to score.

But four minutes into the second half O'Neill restored Drogheda's two goal lead following a counterattack. Ryan Brennan chipped the ball through for the run of O'Neill who raced in to poke the ball past keeper Mark McGinley.

College didn't lie down and got a second goal back on 67 minutes. Dean Clarke collected David McMillan's pass to hold off the challenge of defender Derek Prendergast and shoot home.

Substitute Darren Tinnelly scored a last-gasp equaliser to earn Shelbourne a 1-1 draw at Cork City and lift under-fire boss Alan Mathews' side off the foot of the table.

Left-back Danny Murphy had given Cork a 63rd minute lead when he forced the ball home from a Daryl Horgan cross.

But Cork were stunned in the fourth minute of stoppage time when Tinnelly scrambled the ball to the net following a corner.