National League Premier Division/St Patrick's Athletic 3 Dublin City 1: It may have only been Dublin City, but a win is a win, and there was a new found sense of optimism to be felt around Richmond Park last night after John McDonnell won his first game in charge of St Patrick's Athletic.

St Pat's showed a degree of hunger and passion that had previously been missing in their play this season to come from behind and pick up the points in this crucial bottom-of-the-table clash.

Colm Foley rose highest to head a Keith Fahey corner into the back of the City net on 27 minutes, which cancelled out Cathal O'Connor's 15th minute opener for the visitors.

Then, 11 minutes into the second-half, the Saints took the lead when Chris Adamson's long clearance was flicked on by Darragh Maguire into the path of Aidan O'Keefe who completed the move with a fine finish.

St Pat's then went on to seal the win eight minutes from time as the Joseph Ndo cut the City defence to shreds with a pass that allowed Keith Dunne to side foot the ball past Robert Hogan.

The Vikings deployed five men in midfield for most of the game and that policy paid early dividends. The opening goal came as a direct result of deep runs from Jason Colwell and eventual scorer O'Connor.

Full back Barry Burke was the architect of the goal, with his inswinging cross causing sufficient panic in the St Pat's defence to allow Colwell to flick the ball into the path of O'Connor, who then beat Adamson.

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Adamson; Quigley, Maguire, Foley, El Khebir; Dunne, Fahey, Osam (Casey, 73 mins), Ndo; Bird, O'Keefe (Smith, 88).

DUBLIN CITY: Horgan; Burke, Griffin, Whelehan, Byrne; O'Connor, Tierney (Hughes, 62), Crawley, Colwell, Foy (Brennan, 66); O'Neill.

Referee: A Buttimer (Cork).