In a lively opening, Rovers' top scorer Gary Twigg rattled the home crossbar minutes later.

But St. Pat's struck again on 26 minutes to double their lead when midfielder John Russell, teed up by Forrester, tapped home from close in.

Forrester scored again on 40 minutes before Rovers replied with a header from their captain Ken Oman on the blow of the break.

But normal service resumed at the other end in the second half with striker Christy Fagan hitting a brace on 70 and 86 minutes to seal a big, big win for St. Pat's.

Danny North scored for the third league match running as Sligo Rovers beat Bray Wanderers 2-1 at the Carlisle Grounds to go top of the table.

Raffale Cretaro put Sligo ahead after just ten minutes, but Bray hit back to level through Kieran "Marty" Waters nine minutes later.

North then won it for Sligo with a goal four minutes into the second half when finishing from a Joseph Ndo free-kick.

Drogheda United maintained their bright start to the season to go joint-second with a 1-0 win at Monaghan United, despite playing the whole second half with ten men.

The only goal of the game came from ex-Monaghan striker Declan O'Brien two minutes before half-time when he pounced on a defensive error to run through and beat keeper Chris Bennion.

Drogheda then had midfielder Ryan Brennan, another former Monaghan player, shown a straight red card in the final minute of the half for a crunching challenge on Monaghan's Robert Bayly

Bohemians got their season up and running with a first goal and win of the season in beating Cork City 1-0 at Dalymount Park to leapfrog the Leesiders off the bottom of the table.

Dinny Corcoran got the only goal of the game in the 45th minute, latching onto Dave Scully's flick to shoot past Mark McNulty.

The only blot on the night for Bohs was a straight red card for Scully on 86 minutes for a bad tackle on John Dunleavy.

There were no goals in the night's other two games.

UCD travelled to the Brandywell and came away with an encouraging scoreless draw as Derry City disappointed for the second week running.

College had the chance of the opening half on 11 minutes when Mark Langtry brought a save from Ger Doherty.

Not to be outdone, UCD keeper Mark McGinley produced the stop of the second half to deny Paddy McEleney.

Dundalk held Shelbourne to a 0-0 draw at Oriel Park.

Conan Bynre wasted Shels' best chance on 61 minutes when shooting wide.

Dundalk then might have won it with the opening of the night 15 minutes from time, but Michael Rafter's shot was brilliantly saved by Shels' keeper Paul Skinner.