There was plenty of drama last night at Terryland Park as champions St Patrick's Athletic secured their fifth win of the season. The game had an extraordinary finish as Galway United lost their two central defenders, Billy Cleary and Kieran Foley, to red cards for second bookable offences.

The game also had perhaps the quickest goal for the season. On 36 seconds St Patrick's went in front when the unmarked Alan McNevin struck the ball from the edge of the Galway United area and left goalkeeper Eddie Hickey stranded.

Eighteen seconds into first-half injury-time United got an equaliser when Adrian Cregg sent in a cross from the right which was spilled by goalkeeper Trevor Wood. The in-rushing Luther Watson knocked the ball home from two yards for his first goal of the season.

After the break, the Dublin club, who lost to the same opposition in the FAI cup quarter-final last season, started to get a grip on proceedings. On 76 minutes, Eddie Gormley floated a cross to Marcus Hallows but his effort struck the crossbar. Then, following the two sending-offs and deep into injury time, Keith Doyle set up substitute Shane Hart to score the winner.

Galway United: Hickey, Sheridan, Foley, Clery, Morgan, Cregg, Dolan, Watson Neary, Thornton, Cabia. Sub: Gorman for Thornton (62 mins), Lavine for Cregg (74 mins), Killeen for Cabia (88 mins).

St Patrick's Athletic: Wood, Donnelly, Lynch, Broughan, Doyle, Crolly, Gormley, McNevin, Russell, Hallows, Molloy. Subs: Harte for Russell (55 mins), Byrne for Croly (70 mins), Prenderville for Donnelly (74 mins).

Referee: T Tully (Cork).