St Patrick's Athletic 0 Longford Town 1: After a sluggish start to the season, Longford Town are finally finding their feet. Buoyed by the win over UCD last week, Alan Matthews's men travelled to Dublin and bossed St Patrick's into submission, despite finishing with just nine men.

Longford began as if they were the home team and attacked at every opportunity. Defender Steven Paisley's shot from Alan Kirby's cross in the fourth minute signalled their intent.

St Patrick's, though, soon settled and found a lively outlet in strike pair Robbie Doyle and Gerard Rowe.

The midlands side, who had just gone close from a John Martin shot, were dealt a massive blow in the 36th minute when captain Barry Ferguson was sent off after an off-the-ball altercation with Rowe.

Keith Fahey took the resulting free kick and goalkeeper Stephen O'Brien was at full stretch to keep the ball from creeping in at his far post.

Tempers became frayed on the half-time whistle when backroom staff from both sides disputed the sending off.

If anything, the row gave Longford a boost and just five minutes after the restart they took the lead. Alan Murphy raced down the right wing and delivered a cross which Andy Myler volleyed home from eight yards.

A miserable night for the home side was compounded when Barry Prenderville was dismissed in the 75th minute while Longford's Dean Fitzgerald walked five minutes later after a second yellow.

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Ryan; Prenderville, C Foley, Maguire, Bell; Dunne, Fahey, Perth, M Foley; Doyle, Rowe. Subs: O'Keeffe for M Foley (55 mins), Donnelly for Bell (71 mins), Quigley for Perth (79 mins).

LONGFORD TOWN: O'Brien; Murphy, Ferguson, Paisley, Dillon; Kirby, Fitzgerald, Martin, Barrett; Keegan, Myler. Subs: Byrne for Myler (76 mins), O'Connor for Keegan (90 mins).

Referee: P Tuite (Dublin).