St Patrick's ease to another away win

Table toppers St Patrick's Athletics were in fine form at Buckley Park on Saturday night and left signing in the rain with their league prospects in robust health. Pat Dolan's men played powerfully during the opening half and were not one bit flattered by a 2-0 interval lead.

Subsequently they applied the brakes, saved lowly Kilkenny from another pasting and eased away to their sixth successive away win.

Dolan said after the match played in driving rain: "We looked every so comfortable in the first half, our passing and movement were excellent and we were worth more than two goals.

"In the second half it was a different challenge. After Kilkenny changed their tactics we had to battle hard, but were were very professional in our approach and we weren't found wanting. We are more than happy with three points.

The league leaders had victory in the bag as early as the 34th minute when they were already 20 up. Paul Osam snatched the first in the ninth minutes when he rose above everyone to power a header into the net off the underside of the bar following a right wing cross by Willie Burke.

There were moments when Kilkenny threatened but then in the 34th minute they went two down. A cross on the left by Keith Long caused confusion in the slippery goal area, and Trevor Molloy knocked the ball home from close range.

Kilkenny were fortunate not to concede an own goal in the 36th minute, when Martin Reid cleared off the line.

St Patrick's were content to hold what they had during the second half. Still, the best chance of the half fell to them in the 79th minute when Paul Campbell screwed a shot wide from no more than eight yards.

Towards the end Kilkenny twice tested visiting keeper Trevor Wood. Aidan Cooney had a snapshot on target and then Brian Arrigan had a stinging drive from 30 yards, but Wood was superb in both cases.

Kilkenny: Stephenson, Maher, Reid, Hall, Breen, Devereaux, Leventhal, B Arrigan, Foster, Hale, Kelly. Subs: Walsh for Devereaux (46 mins), Cooney for Maher (63 mins).

St Patrick's Athetics: Wood, Burke, Lynch, Gormley, Osam, Morgan, Devereaux, Long, Hawkins, Molloy, Gilzean. Subs: Reilly for Molloy (63 mins), Campbell for Osam (70 mins), O'Flaherty for Devereaux (83 mins).

Referee: A O'Regan (Cork).