Dundalk 1 St Patrick's Athletic 2:DUNDALK fell to their second home defeat in four days as St Patrick's Athletic recovered from falling a goal behind to claim all three points at Oriel Park.

The game’s first talking point arrived in the 15th minute. Daniel Kearns’ short corner allowed Greg Bolger hammer the ball at goal. But his effort looked to have been blocked by the hand of Ian Bermingham. With Dundalk appealing for a penalty, the loose ball fell to Keith Ward who lashed the effort past Gary Rogers, only for Derek Doyle to hack off the line.

The visitors arrived with an unbeaten run at Oriel Park stretching back 13 years. Their best chance of the half fell to Danny North after 31 minutes, but his effort from Daryl Kavanagh’s cut back was well saved.

Dundalk finished the half strongly and Mark Quigley saw a couple of efforts fly just off target against his old club, before a game of pinball in the six-yard box almost saw Keith Ward grab the opening goal in the 38th minute.

North went close again, his shot on the turn from Neil Harney’s cross flying across the face of goal and wide of the post 10 minutes after the restart.

The breakthrough came in the 56th minute. Ross Gaynor’s inswinging corner from the right found Colin Hawkins at the back post. His initial effort was blocked but the big centre-back reacted quickest to stab the ball home at the second attempt.

St Patrick’s drew level in the 69th minute when substitute Ian Daly showed composure to step away from Dean Bennett and smash the ball past Peter Cherrie.

They ensured their unbeaten run at Oriel Park was preserved when North guided a Kavanagh cross home six minutes later.

DUNDALK: Cherrie; Madden, Bennett, Hawkins, N Murphy; Kearns, Ward, Bolger, Gaynor; Griffin, Quigley.

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: Rogers, Harney, Shortall, Mulcahy, Bermingham; Stewart (Daly 63), Bradley, Crowley (McFaul 63), Doyle; Kavanagh, North (D McMillan 79).

Referee: Derek Tomney (Dublin).