He returned to Ireland to play with the Shamrock Rovers, making his debut, along with Jackie Mooney against Shelbourne at Dalymount Park on 22 August 1962.
During this season Pat played in all 22 league games where Rovers only lost once winning every trophy except the Top Four Cup.
Pat Dunne travelled to Japan in September 1975 with the Rovers team that played three matches on that tour and they beat the Japanese international side 3–2 in one of them.
He vied with Alan O'Neill for the goalkeeping spot over the next two seasons but when Johnny Giles arrived in the summer of 1977 it wasn't long before Pat was on his way from Rovers.
Pat played in Giles' first match in charge in August 1977 but he left during the season and became player-manager of Thurles Town.