Stuart Gauld made a dramatic return to Finn Park on Saturday night but even he could not stop St Patrick's coming from a goal behind to take all three points. Gauld's transfer to Irish league side Omagh had been agreed last week, but somehow the deal fell through and he was back in Harps' colours to face St Patrick's.
Harps almost conceded a goal as early as the fifth minute when Tommy Gaynor hit the bar but then just seven minutes later, they too were denied by the woodwork when Paul Cullen hit the crossbar.
Harps did take the lead in the 15th minute when Keith Doyle fouled James Mulligan in the box and John Gerard McGettigan scored from the spot. Sammy Johnston almost made it 2-0 in the 24th minute but his header bounced off the crossbar with Woods stranded. St Patrick's Eddie Gormley was denied by a fine Darren Nash save in the 34th minute, but 10 minutes later he levelled the match when he scored direct from a corner.
St Patrick's were well in control in the second half and while Trevor Molloy was denied by the post in the 54th minute, he sealed the win with an excellent shot 15 minutes later.
Finn Harps: Nash, McGettigan, Minnock, Boyle, Dowling, O'Kane, Cullen, Johnston, Speak, Mulligan, Gauld, Subs: Callaghan for Cullen (68 mins), Kelly for Mulligan (78).
ST Patrick's Athletic: Woods, Campbell, Doyle, Lynch, Long, Hawkins, Gormley, Osam, Molloy, Gaynor, Devereux, Subs: Reilly for Gaynor (62), Burke for Gormley (68), McGuinness for Devereux (84).
Referee: H Byrne (Dublin).
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