We may just have a title race after all.

Last month, Shamrock Rovers’ lead at the summit stood at 10 points but now that cushion has been cut to three after St Patrick’s Athletic earned the derby bragging rights but more importantly, blew the title race wide open.

If the Saints are to end their 13-year wait for the Premier Division crown, anything less than a victory here would have been a blow to that ambition.

But they showed exactly why they deserve to be in the conversation with a professional performance as early strikes from Jason McClelland and Aidan Keena gave Stephen Kenny’s side three precious points, securing a second victory over the champions in less than a month.

Now, the Saints have put themselves in a position where they could go top of the league (on goal difference) on Monday night, depending on how their trip to Kenny’s old stomping ground Dundalk goes, with just six games remaining.

The leaders just didn’t do enough to feel hard done by here. For all that the hosts were clinical, Rovers’ final ball let them down on too many occasions. Stephen Bradley’s side are now winless in seven with just one clean sheet in their last nine outings and have St Pat’s and Bohemians breathing down their necks.

The Hoops had the chance to extend their lead on St Pat’s to nine points here, but now a long weekend awaits the club and their faithful as the follow the other scores. The title may not be remaining in Tallaght after all.

After a frantic opening, befitting of a Dublin derby, St Pat’s had their dream start.

Jamie Lennon’s perfect whipped cross found McClelland unmarked at the back post, and the midfielder produced a devastating finish with a half-volley to bag his first league goal of the season. Some of the Saints fans hadn’t even taken their seats when the place erupted, as they looked to bounce back from last weekend’s FAI Cup exit to Bohs.

St Pat’s pressed on and poor clearance from Roberto Lopes also helped raise the voice of the home support, who were enjoying their side’s dominant start. It was clear from the off that Kenny’s men meant business.

Rovers took their time but did settle into the derby after the 15-minute mark. For all their possession however, they were struggling to get in behind the St Pat’s rearguard, having also suffered a pre-match blow as injury forced Enda Stevens’ withdrawal, with Dan Cleary a late inclusion.

The closest they came to a leveller was through Lopes, who cleverly flicked Jack Byrne’s cross towards goal just before the half-hour mark, but Joseph Anang, who also went to the World Cup (with Ghana), did well to get down low to his left and claw the ball to safety.

Rovers’ pressure continued, with Tunmise Sobowale firing in several dangerous crosses towards the home box, but the Saints were answering every question that was being asked of them.

The Hoops looked more likely to score the second goal of the derby, but on 33 minutes, they were done on the counter as St Pat’s doubled their lead.

They worked it out to the right flank as former Ireland U-21 man Zach Elbouzedi drilled a threatening cross into the box. Keena’s first touch allowed him to open his body up and settle himself, as his scuffed shot rolled past McGinty.

The Westmeath man had his seventh league goal of the season, and his side had full control of the derby.

Moments after the second, an error from Lopes allowed St Pat’s to break forward again as 17-year-old Ryan Sheridan went through on goal, but the attacker, who made his league debut last month, saw his effort well saved by McGinty.

The Hoops piled forward again in the hope of pulling one back before the break and the ball did drop kindly to Michael Noonan at one stage inside the box, but a goal-saving tackle from Saints skipper Joe Redmond denied the Ireland U-21 striker a third goal in four games.

Anang had to be alert to Dylan Watts’ drilled shot right before the interval, but St Pat’s went into the dressing room with their two-goal lead intact.

After a slow, below par opening half, a big team talk was required from Bradley to rally his troops, but he didn’t get the response he was looking for from his champions.

In fact, St Pat’s went very close to adding a third on 54 minutes as Keena was slipped through by Sheridan but saw his effort denied by McGinty. Moments later, Lennon tried his luck but McGinty was again equal to it.

By the 56th-minute, Bradley had seen enough and opted for another change as former Saint Jake Mulraney was introduced, receiving an interesting reception from the home fans, who made their feelings known towards the winger.

Byrne was hooked in the process and appeared furious with the decision, throwing his jacket and water bottle to the ground as he took his seat on the bench.

Mulraney very nearly answered all of the critics just after the hour, cutting in on the right wing and sending a curler towards goal but it flew just wide of Anang’s post.

Rovers kept the pressure on and Graham Burke did well to dance into the home box before teeing up Cleary, but the defender should have hit the target at least. The goal was still eluding Rovers despite their possession.

The visitors badly needed a goal, so it was no surprise to see Bradley introduce two strikers for the final 25 minutes as John McGovern and Jonathan Afolabi entered the fray. However, neither could drag the champions back into the contest as St Pat’s saw out a crucial victory in relative comfort.

If the title does return to Richmond Park on October 30, this derby win will be a central chapter in that fairytale.