Pat’s trio in top form to down Bray

RYAN BRENNAN, Ian Turner and Graham Kelly delivered the goals as St Patrick’s saw off bottom-of-the-table Bray Wanderers, who finished with 10 men, at Richmond Park. Dominant from the start, the home side finally found a way past Evan Moran in the visitors’ goal on 32 minutes. Winger Conan Byrne skipped inside a couple of challenges on the right before the ball ran loose for Brennan. The midfielder looked up to hit a first time shot from some 25 yards that dipped beyond Moran and into the net for his fourth league goal of the season. Bray responded to finish the half strongly. Sean Harding crossed for Jake Kelly to loop a header against Brendan Clarke’s crossbar before he himself rifled a drive inches over the top. St Pat’s regained the initiative and duly doubled their lead ten minutes into the second half. Again Byrne was influential, crossing from the right for makeshift striker Turner to sweep home from inside the area for his first league strike of the campaign. Bray’s Gary McCabe was shown a second yellow card, and sent off, on 76 minutes for a challenge on Jamie Lennon. Substitute Kelly then headed home a Byrne cross for St Pat’s third goal three minutes from time.

ST PAT’S: B. Clarke; Madden, Leahy, Toner, Desmond; C. Byrne, R. Brennan (Clifford, 64), Lennon (Kelly, 82), D. Clarke (Doona, 74); Markey; Turner.

BRAY WANDERERS: Moran; Hayes, Gibbons, Kenna, Lynch; Harding (Rafferty, 89), Gorman, McCabe, J. Kelly (Noone, 77); Ellis (Mamaliga, 63), Pender.

Referee: Ray Matthews (Longford).