Byrne leads the sack of Inchicore

St Patrick's Athletic ... 1 Bray Wanderers ... 4
Richmond Park hasn't been a happy hunting ground for St Patrick's Athletic this season, but not even their most loyal supporters could have envisaged this.

With only two home wins this season their fans must have fancied their chances of making it three against bottom of the table Bray, even if the Seasiders had won 2-1 on their last visit to Inchicore.

But make no mistake, Bray were full value for their win. Already 2-0 up courtesy of a first-half Jason Byrne double, they made sure of the points with two more goals within seven minutes of the re-start as first Barry O'Connor, in the 46th minute, and then John Flood were given space inside the box to score.

All St Patrick's had to show for their efforts was a Paul Osam strike after 67 minutes.

St Patrick's, ironically, were out of the starting block with plenty of attacking fire in the opening quarter of an hour, but Ger McCarthy and then Robbie Griffin squandered chances.

But Bray gradually got into their stride and but for Saints goalkeeper Seamus Kelly they may well have been ahead earlier than they actually were.

But the half ended with double joy for Bray and in particular for Byrne. Eamon Zayed was the provider for both goals.

For his opener on 22 minutes, Byrne provided the impetus for the move with an acrobatic overhead kick which sent Zayed free on the right. And the teenager took full advantage to cross back into the danger zone when the unmarked Byrne was waiting to head home.

Ten minutes before the break when Byrne then scuffed home the second from close range.
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Kelly; Croly, Burke, Mannion, Harris, Foley, Ozam, Russell, McCarthy, Livingstone, Griffin. Subs: L Kelly for Mannion (half-time), Donnelly for Foley (half-time), Holt for McCarthy (68 mins).
BRAY WANDERERS: Walsh; Gormley, O'Reilly, Doohan, O'Hanlon, Flood, O'Connor, Keogh, Zayed, Byrne, Forsythe. Sub: Morgan for Flood (89 mins).
Referee: P McKeon (Dublin)