National League/Longford Town 1 St Patrick's Athletic 3:   The poor early season form of St Patrick's Athletic was laid to rest at Flancare Park last night as the super Saints confined Longford to another sickening home defeat.

The home side were simply not at the races, but for some fine goalkeeping the visitors' margin of victory could have been even greater.

Town keeper Stephen O'Brien was sent off for a 35th minute challenge on St Patrick's substitute Aidan O'Keeffe.

O'Brien had been Longford's most impressive performer up to that point. Enough said.

St Patrick's had countless chances to open the scoring in a one sided first-half but still had to be content to be level at the break.

However, the floodgates opened midway through the second-half after Tony Bird fired St Patrick's in front.

Seven minutes later Cameroon international Joseph Ndo doubled the visitors advantage. After receiving a superb pass from Mark Casey Ndo finished with aplomb.

Longford's night of misery was complete in the 78th minute when substitute's Aidan O'Keeffe and Gary McPhee combined, the latter cracking home goal number three.

Longford received some consolation when Dessie Baker grabbed his second goal of the season, deep into stoppage time.

LONGFORD TOWN: O'Brien, Murphy, Dillon, Gartland, Ferguson, Keogh, Kirby, Perth, Keegan, Barrett, Martin. Subs: Dempsey for Martin (36 mins), Baker for Keogh (74 mins), Francis for Barrett (81 mins).

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Adamson, Quigley, Casey, Ndo, Maguire, Foley, Osam, Fahy, Bird, Lee Jones, Dunne. Subs: O'Keeffe for Fahy (7 mins), McPhee for Lee Jones (75 mins), Kerins for Ndo (82 mins).

Referee: A Kelly (Cork).