A cracking goal by dead-ball expert Paul Byrne sealed St. Pat's second league win of the season against bottom club Finn Harps. With the sides level at 1-1 and 75 minutes gone, Byrne stepped up to a 20-yard free kick and curled it past a bemused Gareth Downey into the top corner.

Ger McCarthy had put Pat's ahead as early as the tenth minute with a route-one goal straight from Seamus Kelly's long punt. But Alex Nesovic cancelled that out nine minutes before the break, getting the vital touch as the ball pinballed around the Saints' area.

Harps could have taken the lead but Kemalj Avdiu and John Kenny both spurned second-half chances before Byrne conjured up his winner.

St. Patrick's Athletic: S Kelly, Burke, Maguire, Foley, L Kelly, Croly, S McGuinness, Byrne, McCarthy, Griffin, R McGuinness

Subs: G Doyle for Griffin 45 mins, Harris for R McGuinness 65 mins, K. Doyle for L Kelly 89 mins

Booked: S McGuinness 77

Goals: McCarthy 10, Byrne 75

Finn Harps: Downey, R Kenny, Minnock, S Bradley, Fitzhenry, J Kenny, Mohan, McGranaghan, Avdiu, Nesovic, Harkin

Subs: Tierney for Harkin 60 mins, Bonnar for Avdiu 74 mins, McGinley for McGranaghan 82 mins

Booked: Downey 25, Bradley 47

Goal: Nesovic 36

Referee: J O'Neill (Waterford)