St Patrick's went back to the top of the Premier Division of the National League last night thanks to an industrious performance in Ballybofey against the jaded home team. The visitors were rarely troubled by Charlie McGeever's team and were good value for their points following well-taken goals either side of the interval.

Leon Braithwaite put St Patrick's ahead on the stroke of half-time and a thunderous effort from Thomas Morgan sealed the issue 10 minutes into the second half.

Harps had the best of the early play but they didn't make their advantage pay. Harps' goalkeeper Jody Byrne's first real test came in the 17th minute when Eddie Gormley drilled in a low free kick which Byrne managed to grab at the second attempt.

In the 26th minute Byrne palmed the ball off Ian Gilzean's head as the Dublin team piled on the pressure.

Harps responded well to the challenge. Paddy McGrenaghan's fine run in the 34th minute saw him easily beat Keith Doyle, but his cross went inches over the unmarked Davy Dowling.

St Patrick's continued to look dangerous on the attack and when Declan Boyle crudely upended Paul Osam, the St Patrick's bench was screaming for a penalty. Referee John Stacey gave a free on the edge of the box which Gormley blasted into the wall and Harps looked set to go in at the break on level terms.

Braithwaite had other ideas, however, and when Packie Lynch headed Trevor Molloy's corner into his path on the stroke of half-time, he gleefully blasted past Byrne from six yards.

Any hopes Harps had of a second-half comeback were quashed in the 55th minute when Molloy's cross flicked off Declan Boyle and Thomas Morgan rifled home a sweet right-foot strike from the edge of the box.

Finn Harps: Byrne, Vaudequin, Minnock, Boyle, Bradley, O'Brien, McGrenaghan, McGettigan, Mulligan, Dowling, Gauld. Subs: Cullen for Vaudequin (half-time); Callaghan for McGrenaghan (70).

St Patrick's: Wood, Burke, Lynch, Gormley, Osam, Morgan, Molloy, Braithwaite, Doyle, Hawkins, Gilzean. Subs: Devereux for Molloy (89 mins); Croly for Lynch (82).

Referee: J Stacey (Athlone).