St Pat's reaffirmed their title credentials with a 3-1 victory over Dundalk at Inchicore last night.

Liam Buckley's first game in charge proved something of a stroll, with Dundalk guilty of some sloppy defending.

Four minutes before the break Eddie Gormley opened the scoring for the hosts when shooting home spectacularly from 25 yards out.

Gormley then turned provider for Patrick's second on 56 minutes, the midfielder's free over the top releasing Trevor Molloy, who cleverly chested the ball down before unleashing a left-footed drive.

Peter Withnell responded for the visitors on 72 minutes but Patrick's put the issue beyond doubt six minutes later when Molloy's shot took a deflection off fellow striker Ian Gilzean.

St Patrick's Athletic: Wood, Long, Doyle, McGuinness, Croly, Reilly, Osam, Gorm ley, Russell, Gilzean, Molloy. Subs: Moody for McGuinness (51), Devereaux for Reilly (81).

Dundalk: William, McNulty, Crawley, Doo han, Brady, Melvin, Campbell, Thew, Withnill, Ward, Hoey. Subs: Reddish for Campbell (70), Hannon for Withnell (78).

Referee: P McKeown (Dublin)