Dublin City - 0 St Patricks Athletic - 2: Dublin City manager Dermot Keely was at pains to point out in his programme notes just how competitive his side would need to be to make up the gap in ability and quality in their approach to life in the Premier Division.
"If we back off we'll be spanked," Keely stressed, "it's as simple as that." Those words couldn't have summed up much of this match more aptly as the far from battling Vikings found themselves 2-0 down inside half an hour.
St Patrick's players, on the other hand, clearly heeded their manager John McDonnell's criticism following Tuesday's League Cup exit to Shamrock Rovers to react in a positive manner, having the ball in the net twice inside seven minutes.
Referee Damien Hancock was central to both incidents, disallowing the first 'goal' from David Mulcahy for an infringement following the first corner of the night, before playing a good advantage for the lead score four minutes later.
Alan Keely scythed down Mulcahy 30 yards out, but St Patrick's retained possession and Hancock let play continue as the visitors exacted telling retribution. Trevor Molloy's cross from the right picked out Paul Keegan, who beat Gary Rogers at his near post.
Another clumsy tackle brought St Patrick's second goal on 29 minutes. Dublin captain Stuart Malcolm, in attempting to retrieve an error, was booked for a foul on Seán O'Connor. Further punishment was clinically executed as Molloy curled a powerful free-kick round the dubiously constructed wall and past the despairing dive of Rogers.
Despite three substitutions by Dublin, St Patrick's remained in full control into the second half with Molloy's cheeky free-kick almost catching out Rogers before Robbie Collins had to clear a header from Darragh Maguire off the line.
DUBLIN CITY: Rogers; Brennan, Malcolm, Keely (Whelehan, half time), Doyle; Pender (Rooney, 34 mins), McGill, Shiels, O'Donnell (Crowley, half time); Collins, Freeman.
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Ryan; Murphy, Brennan, Maguire, Frost; Fitzpatrick, M Foley, Mulcahy, O'Connor; Keegan (M Quigley, 61 mins), Molloy.
Referee: D Hancock (Dublin)
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