St Pat's narrow table gap to one point

St. Patrick's Athletic 4 Longford Town 2

St. Patrick's moved back to within a point of leaders Drogheda United, though they had to work hard to see off bottom side Longford at Richmond Park.

New signing Michael Keane put St. Pat's in front on 12 minutes when stabbing home from six yards after a Dave Rogers' cross ricocheted to him.

Anto Murphy added the second on 51 minutes when left unmarked at the back post to head home Keith Fahey's corner.

A mistake by Barry Ryan, who dropped a Mark Rutherford corner, gifted Dave Mooney a goal back for Longford on 71 minutes.

But a first league for the club for Ryan Guy extended St. Pat's lead five minutes later. Fahey dinked a ball in for the American who controlled it well before drilling past Shay Kelly.

Longford wouldn't lie down and they got a second goal back on 83 minutes; Pat Sullivan curling the ball into the corner of the net directly from a free-kick.

But St. Pat's regained their two goal advantage with Alan Kirby getting their fourth goal three minutes into stoppage time, slicing home Mark Quigley's pull back.