Darragh Burns has been tipped to light up the league after leaving Damien Duff down and out on the opening night.
Burns scored a sensational opening goal in St Pat’s 3-0 win at Shelbourne on Friday, confidently bending the ball into the top corner from 25-yards.
And it paved the way for the FAI Cup holders to spoil Duff’s managerial bow at a packed Tolka Park.
Burns, 19, starred for the Saints last season in his breakthrough year, playing a leading role in their march to the cup final and second-placed league finish.
A Dubliner living in Meath with a father from Belfast, he represented Northern Ireland competitively at underage level but is in the process of declaring for the Republic.
And the impact he made last season did not go unnoticed as Scottish side Hibs led the charge to sign him over the winter, and there was also interest from League One.
But St Pat’s rejected what they felt were a number of derisory offers for the talented winger who has started this season on fire.
And Saints boss Tim Clancy feels Burns has all the tools to become one of the most exciting talents in Ireland.
He said: “Every kid, and especially Darragh, just wants to play football.
“There can be noise around the place and we saw it with James Abankwah going to Udinese and getting a good deal.
“Hopefully the days are gone where the best young players are going for next to nothing.
“Darragh showed on Friday why clubs were interested in him and I think he’s going to improve again and have a very good season and a very good career in the game.
“We knew the first-half of the Shels game would be very tight but Darragh produced a worldie.
“It was a bit of quality that you can’t really coach and you’re lucky to have that in your team.”
St Pat’s put it up to Shamrock Rovers in the President’s Cup and ought to have won the game before losing on penalties.
But they were clinical at a packed Tolka Park with Burns, Mark Doyle and Jay McClelland putting Duff’s men to the sword.
Duff was relieved to get his first competitive game as a manager out of the way and claimed that he hates the attention and that rival bosses were welcome to it instead.
But Clancy said: “With the greatest of respect, I didn’t mind playing second fiddle to Damien Duff when you look at the career he’s had.
“His appointment is something that has probably made the league exciting this year. He’s an absolute legend in Irish football.
“But Friday night was about the players on the pitch which is the most important thing and we’ve shown that we have players there that are very capable.
“To see the hard work we’ve done in pre-season, and also keep a clean sheet like that, is very pleasing. Getting three goals as well.”
Clancy added: “It's a massive opportunity for myself and I’m very grateful to have it. For as long as I’m here, for good or bad, it’s the fans club and I’ll do my best to please them.”
Meanwhile, St Pat's will send young goalkeeper Josh Keeley out on loan after signing David Odumosu.
Odumosu, who is in the Ireland Under-21 squad, arrives from Drogheda United where he was first-choice last season under new Saints boss Tim Clancy.
He spent the winter on trial with clubs in England, including Bolton Wanderers, but no deal materialised.
And St Pat’s swooped over the weekend and he will push on-loan West Ham keeper Joseph Anang for the gloves.
Clancy said: “We have Joe in who is a very good goalkeeper and we’ve Josh Keeley who is an excellent young keeper who lacks a little bit of experience.
“The plan was to try and get another keeper in to compete with Joe and allow Josh to get first-team experience.
“We’re hoping we can get that this season for Josh and it will allow us to have a couple of strong keepers this time next year.”
