Finn Harps 0 St Patrick's Ath 1:ST PATRICK'S Athletic kept their championship dream mathematically alive with this narrow win over Finn Harps at Finn Park last night.

Having already thumped Harps 5-1 in Inchicore and 3-0 in Ballybofey earlier in the season, the Saints had few pre-match fears about this encounter.

Harps, in contrast, went into the game bidding to put their financial problems aside and probably of the belief that even a point would represent a good result for them in their battle to keep above the relegation zone.

The Dubliners shaded a tight opening quarter, although scoring chances were few.

Harps survived a scare on 10 minutes when defender Aaron Labonte looked on in anguish as a header clipped the crossbar.

Glen Fitzpatrick was then nearly in as the Harps defence continued to look suspect.

At the other end Conor Gethins saw a weak show deflect off Jason Gavin for a corner.

Gethins and Breen combined well on a number of occasions for the home side as the interval approached.

Indeed Breen may feel he should have scored; he had one shot sail just wide, one saved and one blocked.

But it was the visitors who went closest to breaking the deadlock in a relatively subdued first half.

With 43 minutes gone, Keith Fahey was fouled by Shaun McGowan outside the box. Fahey struck the resulting free well only to see it fly just outside the post.

St Patrick's took the lead on 50 minutes when Fahey slipped the ball through to Mark Quigley inside the Harps box, and he turned well before shooting low past James Gallagher.

Four minutes later it could have been two after Ryan Guy snaked his way into the Harps box before being taken down by Declan Boyle. Quigley's penalty was, however, saved by Gallagher.

The miss lifted the home support and briefly Harps responded, Neil McCafferty sending a decent shot not far off the target.

Gradually St Pat's got back on top, Guy twice going close only to be denied on both occasions by Gallagher.

Harps pushed hard late on in a bid to salvage a point - and had a late penalty appeal turned down - but this defeat means they are still hovering just above the relegation zone.

FINN HARPS:Gallagher, Mukendi, Minnock, Labonte, Boyle, McCafferty, Funston (Friel 70), McGowan, Beckett (Tyrell 63), Gethins, Breen (Malcolm 85).

ST PAT'S ATHLETIC:Ryan, Lynch, Fahey, Quigley, Fitzpatrick, Harris, Dempsey, Gavin, Guy, O'Brien (Kirby 85), Rogers.

Referee:T Connolly (Westmeath).