Sligo Rovers 2 St Patrick's Athletic 3:A blistering finish by Paul Cooke's side came within a whisker of forcing a dramatic draw at the Showgrounds last night.

St Patrick's were in cruise control at the interval, having bagged three cracking goals, but a Fahrudan Kudozovic finish when he blasted the ball to the visitors' net six minutes from time raised the stakes.

Anthony Murphy was red-carded in the 89th minute, but the visitors hung on for a win that catapulted them into second place on the table.

Sligo showed slight improvement in the secondhalf but the visitors were content to defend. But Sligo's persistence was rewarded on 74 minutes when Matthew Judge opened their account.

Mark Quigley put the visitors ahead in the 10th minute with a superb finish following pacey run by Keith Fahey who was given acres of space.

St Patrick's got a second on 20 minutes with a long, looping shot by Gary O'Neill after Dave Rodgers and Darragh Maguire did the ground work.

A Kudozovic freekick after 15 minutes was Sligo's only chance of the half, but goalkeeper Barry Ryan was equal to the task. St Patrick's got a third when Anthony Murphy, who had a fine game, headed Keith Fahey's corner kick past Richard Brush on 59 minutes.

SLIGO ROVERS: Brush, Ventre, Peers, McKenzie, O'Grady, Cretero, Judge, Boyd, Foy, Kudozovic , Gordon. Subs: Hughes for Cretero (59 mins), Cash for Gordon (59 mins).

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Ryan, Brennan, Rodgers, Maguire, Kirby, Fahey, O'Neill, Keane, Quigley, Murphy, Paisley. Subs: Clarke for Ryan (48 mins), Gibson for Keane (81 mins), Guy for Quigley (76 mins).

Referee: D Hanney (Dublin)