Chris Forrester with late winner as St Pat's Athletic edge nine-man Nõmme Kalju in Conference League
Chris Forrester netted shortly after his introduction on 90 minutes as Conor Carty's shot was parried by goalkeeper Maksim Pavlov, and Forrester danced around him before finishing coolly.
It looked set to be a night of frustration for the Saints as they were repelled despite Kalju losing Rommi Siht and Danyl Mashchenko to red cards within five second half minutes.
The dam eventually in the final minute of normal time as the deeply cynical Estonians' defensive gameplan was finally undone.
The home support were in fine voice long before kick off - though they had to in order to be heard above a PA soundtrack that could be heard from space - and maintained that despite their frustrations.
And their patience - and that of goalkeeper Joe Anang - who also got to relax and watch a game of football - was rewarded when the erratic Pavlov failed to hold onto Carty's effort.
The Russian goalkeeper had two hairy moments early on, first tipping a Jay McClelland cross over and almost fumbling Simon Power's centre into his own net.
That was to be the majority of the first-half entertainment bar Pavlov tipping away a shot by sub Jake Mulraney, on after Zack Elbouzedi was cynically hacked down and had to depart with an arm injury.
Mulraney again went close as Pavlov spilled a corner and the ball was cleared to the edge of the box, but it fell onto the roof of the net.
The tide appeared to turn as Siht made a mess of a Saints breakaway and received a second yellow card for hacking down Barry Baggley.
Power hit the side netting from 20 yards before Kalju's woes were compounded when Mashchenko cynically chopped down Mulraney as he ran in on goal.
The visitors changed their initial plan of 11 men behind the ball to nine men behind the ball - or on the ground - but the Athletic's diligence eventually paid off as Forrester capitalised.
They had further chances in injury time as subs Aidan Keena and Mulraney both drove narrowly wide but they will travel to Tallinn next Thursday with the most slender of leads.
St. Patrick's Athletic: Joe Anang; Tom Grivosti, Jay McClelland, Ryan McLaughlin (Aidan Keena 71), Joseph Redmond; Barry Baggley, Zack Elbouzedi (Jake Mulraney 24), Kian Leavy (Brandon Kavanagh 78), Jamie Lennon (Christopher Forrester 78), Simon Power; Mason Melia (Conor Carty 78).
Nomme Kalju : Maksim Pavlov; Danyil Mashchenko, Maksim Podholjuzin (Uku Kõrre 45), Modou Tambedou, Daniil Tarassenkov; Kristjan Kask, Oleksandr Musolitin (Aleksandr Nikolajev 46), Ivans Patrikejevs (Sander Alex Liit 78), Rommi Siht; Nikita Ivanov (Guilherme Henriques da Silva Carvalho 62), Mattias Männilaan.
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