St Patrick's Athletic 0 Longford Town 0:  The carefree swagger with which St Patrick's applied to their work earlier in the season may have waned but their supporters should not be too disheartened.

Having slipped down the table, league aspirations may have frittered out somewhat but an enticing cup tie against Dundalk lurks next weekend and, on their day, John McDonnell's men have the tools to excite, as they demonstrated in stages last night.

Both sides were keen to get about their opponents and passes a plenty set the tone during an energetic opening spell.  However, the frightening speed which both sets of players closed down their opponents ensured a tight contest.

Consequently, neither side was afforded too much room with which to work and chances in the final third were restricted as a result.

That said, St Patrick's pushed on when afforded space and both Mark Quigley and Trevor Molloy were menacing.

But despite their endeavour, the visiting defence, in which Kevin Doherty made a number of crucial interventions from the pair, more often than not thwarted advances before goalkeeper Mick Dempsey was called upon.

Still, Keith Fahey regularly found the right flank a profitable outlet and whether he was supplying crosses or shooting himself, he proved a conundrum for Doherty and co.

Doherty, in fact, had the ball in the net midway through the second half but his header from Steven Gough's corner was ruled out for pushing.

In terms of attacking opportunities it was as close to a goal as the visitors got although David Mooney did force Barry Ryan into a superb save late on.

Fahey then could have nabbed a deserved late winner but his fizzing shot from distance went narrowly over.
 
St Patrick's Athletic:  Ryan; S Quigley, C Foley, Maguire, Rutherford; Fahey, Mulcahy, Brennan; M Quigley; Armstrong, Molloy.  Subs:  Rooney for Molloy (73), Keegan for Armstrong (73), M Foley for Brennan (84).
 
Longford Town: Dempsey; Murphy, Doherty, Gough, Prunty; J Martin, O'Connor, Fitzgerald, Kirby; Freeman, R Martin. Subs: Mooney for J Martin (68).  Booked:  Martin (51), Murphy (65).

Referee:  R Winters (Dublin)