St Patrick's are leading from the front

LEAGUE OF IRELAND PREMIER DIVISION/Bohemians 0 St Patrick's Athletic 1:IT MIGHT not have come off for them last year but St Patrick's Athletic seem intent once again on mounting this year's assault on the league from the front.

The manner of their win at Dalymount Park last night could hardly have been much more different from the one over Sligo a week ago, but the visitors certainly could not have been faulted for the zeal with which they pursued their second straight victory.

Late on, the game almost descended into chaos as three sendings off left Bohemians to pursue a draw with 10 men compared to their opponents' nine.

For a team that had defended so poorly against Glentoran four nights ago, though, the visitors were fearsome at the back and if the home supporters left blaming the referee for the misfortune, Pat Fenlon would presumably concede this morning that his side's inability to generate more than the odd half chance in the face of such determination was also of a factor.

Having had to come from behind in each of their previous two outings this season, St Patrick's managed to take an early lead last night, Keith Fahey grabbing an opportunistic goal just short of a quarter of an hour in.

The game had still to settle into any real pattern and the midfielder's sensational strike came almost out of nothing with a throw-in from the left followed by a thunderbolt of a shot from more than 35 yards and an angle.

In truth, it really should not have caused Brian Murphy many problems but the goalkeeper's surprise looked to be compounded by a misjudgement and the ball rocketed past him and into the net.

The closest Bohemians came during the first half to grabbing an equaliser was eight minutes later when Murphy threw the ball into the path of Owen Heary.

The right back pushed forward and hit a looping cross that Glen Crowe volleyed for what, but for Barry Ryan's fine save, would have been a truly spectacular goal.

Before the break Killian Brennan, under pressure from two defenders, fed the ball through for Crowe only for the striker to hook his shot on the turn left and wide.

Darren Mansaram, through all of this, was little more than an onlooker while Brennan was finding Joe O'Cearuill, switched from centre half to right back as part a major reshuffle by Johnny McDonnell of his back four, more than a match.

Things got no better for the hosts after the break, their opponents' solidity at the back giving them a strong base on which to build some enterprising attacks.

At the other end Ken Oman and Liam Burns generally looked good too but St Patrick's found the occasional weakness, as when Bobby Ryan sent Gary O'Neill racing clear only for the striker to misdirect his attempt to lob the keeper.

Bohemians weren't helped in their quest to salvage a point by the poor quality of their frees, though Brennan did produce one to worry the visitors 10 minutes from time when David Partridge had to clear off the line and Oman missed with his follow-up shot.

Dessie Byrne was sent off for the foul that led to the free - it was his second booking in a matter of minutes - and Dave McKeon then sent Brennan and Barry Ryan after him, the winger for an off-the-ball challenge on Bobby Ryan, the goalkeeper for his part in the mayhem that ensued.

Bohemians frantically chased an equaliser against nine men, but for their all their urgency they did not manage a shot on target in the closing stages as the visitors dug in with admirable resolve.

BOHEMIANS: Murphy; Heary, Oman, Burns, Rossiter (McGuinness, 88 mins); Kelly, Turner (O'Donnell, 66 mins), Hunt, Brennan; Crowe, Mansaram (Byrne, 63 mins).

St Patrick's Athletic: Ryan; O'Cearuill, Harris, Partridge, Paisley; Ryan, Lynch, Fahey, Byrne; M Quigley (Guy, 81 mins), O'Neill (Clarke, 86 mins).

Referee: D McKeon (Dublin).

The FAI has issued an apology for its attempt to hide the fact Shane Long had been withdrawn from the squad for last October's qualifier against Cyprus because the association had belatedly realised he was suspended for the game.

Long had been on the bench in Slovakia when he was supposed to be suspended and, while failing to publicly attribute any blame for the error, the FAI said yesterday it had significantly changed its procedures so as to ensure the problem did not recur.

The issue of suspensions will in future be dealt with by the recently established Disciplinary Control Unit, which will ensure international managers know what players are unavailable and the information is posted on the association's website.