Shane Robinson struck a stunning late winner as Shamrock Rovers inflicted a third defeat in a row on a freefalling St Patrick's Athletic in a thrilling game at Richmond Park that saw both sides finish with 10 men.

Robinson, an 83rd minute replacement for Noel Hunt, collected a pass from midfield three minutes later, and, finding himself in space on the edge of the area, unleashed a stinging right-foot shot that flew past James Gallagher.

The competitive nature of the game from the start emphasised both team's current desperation with just two wins between them from their previous 14 league games combined prior to last night.

St Patrick's started positively with Paul Osam, fit despite a knee injury, forcing a clumsy save from Tony O'Dowd to force the first corner of the night from a 30-yard shot on nine minutes.

But it was second from bottom Rovers who looked the more dangerous when they pushed forward. James Gallagher in the St Patrick's goal had to stretch to claim the ball off the head of the lively Noel Hunt from a Sean Francis cross.

The pace and eagerness of Hunt then created the clearest opening of the first half on 23 minutes when he picked out Stephen Grant in space just outside the area. But Grant opted to cut in side rather than shoot first time and his left foot curler was just over.

O'Dowd had a let off at the other end eight minutes later when he flapped at a free kick from Martin Russell but there was no St Patrick's player there to capitalize on the error.

Ger McCarthy was then twice guilty in quick succession of two bad misses when through on goal, on both occasions lobbing over the crossbar with only O'Dowd to beat.

St Patrick's frustration worsened six minutes before half-time when they conceded a dreadful goal. The quick-footed Russell, of all people, isolated in front of his own goal was incredulously caught in possession by the alert Luke Dimech and the Maltese international squared the ball to Hunt who shot home.

An amazing incident gifted St Patrick's their equaliser seven minutes into the second half. With the ball rolling back to him, O'Dowd stopped playing as he insisted he heard referee Jimmy O'Neill's whistle for a free-kick. McCarthy accepted the gift and duly shot the ball into the unguarded net.

Dimech of Rovers and St Patrick's Trevor Croly were both dismissed before Robinson struck a deserved winner.

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Gallagher; Croly, Foley, Maguire, Burke (Donnelly 73 mins); Griffin (L. Kelly h-t), Osam, Russell; Mbabazi, McCarthy, Bird (Holt 89).

SHAMROCK ROVERS: O'Dowd; Costello, Scully, Palmer, Byrne; S. Grant, Colwell, Dimech, Keddy; Hunt (Robinson 83), Francis (Tracey 67).

Referee: J O'Neill (Waterford).