Finn Harps 0 St Patrick's Athletic 2: St Patrick's Athletic eased their relegation worries with a well-deserved win over Finn Harps at Finn Park on Saturday evening and, consequently, jumped to eighth place in the Premier Division.

Harps went into the game favourites, following three straight wins. Had they won they would have moved out of the bottom two for the first time this season.

By contrast, St Patrick's, with only two points away from home all season, knew that defeat would plunge them into the relegation zone.

The mood of optimism that engulfed Finn Park at the start of play soon evaporated as the Dublin side turned in a performance that suggests they are too good to become embroiled in matters at the wrong end of the table .

Harps had to depend on a wonderful save by goalkeeper Gavin Cullen, who tipped over a Colm Foley header, to keep the sides level before the break.

The Dubliners took the lead on 61 minutes with Keith Fahey's shot taking a deflection off the unfortunate Declan Boyle.

Ten minutes later they secured the points as the unmarked Foley headed home Fahey's free kick.

FINN HARPS: Cullen; McGowan, Minnock, Boyle, Asokuh, Funston, Capper, McGrenaghan, Breen, McHugh, Gorman. Subs: Bradley for McGowan (80 mins), Rossiter for Funston (80 mins).

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Ryan; Quigley, Bell, Donnelly, McGuire, C Foley, Caffrey, Fahey, Doyle, Rowe, M Foley. Subs: Keith Dunne for Rowe (79 mins), Smith for Doyle (90 mins).

Referee: D Hanney (Dublin).