St Patrick's do the talking on pitch

St Patrick's Athletic 2 UCD 0: THEIR INTEGRITY and dedication questioned twice this week, St Patrick's players responded with their first home win in five games to inch closer to cementing second place in the league.

Reacting to the strong words of manager John McDonnell following Tuesday's defeat to Cork City, and putting off-field betting allegations aside, St Patrick's started well to get at relegated UCD from the first whistle.

Keith Fahey's deflected free-kick from just yards out, which was awarded after goalkeeper Matt Gregg picked up Ian Bermingham's back pass after just three minutes, brought St Patrick's a second corner.

Four minutes later an incisive attack saw Fahey put left-back Dave Rogers in on goal, but the Liverpudlian sliced his shot.

Another mistake, this time by skipper Conor Kenna, whose back pass fell short, gifted the home side a real chance on 30 minutes.

Captain Jamie Harris, again playing up front, latched on to it, but was a little sluggish and Gregg was out quickly to save at his feet.

Harris then had Derek O'Brien's low cross taken of his toe at the back post by Brian Shortall's vital interception.

The pressure finally told on the UCD defence right on 45 minutes, ironically from a swift counterattack down the right.

Ryan Guy picked out Fahey who controlled the ball before drilling past Gregg via his weaker left foot.

St Patrick's survived a scare on the hour when Shane McFaul's long-range shot was touched over by Barry Ryan.

Fahey was running the game and crossed for Mark Quigley to head straight into the arms of Gregg, before St Patrick's added their second goal on 66 minutes.

Alan Kirby fed Fahey who skipped by the challenge of Kenna to cross for the inrushing Kirby to slide the ball home.

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Barry Ryan; O'Cearuill, Gavin, Partridge, Rogers; Guy, Fahey, Kirby, O'Brien (Bialek, 83 mins); Harris (G Fitzpatrick, 77 mins), Quigley.

UCD: Gregg; Shortall, Kenna, McMillan, Bermingham; Fitzgerald (Cahalane, 83 mins), McFaul, McNally, Duggan; Finn (Meenan, h/t), McWalter (Purcell, 83 mins).

Referee: Anthony Buttimer(Cork).