Dundalk hit the self-destruct button at Richmond Park as the Louth teams' woeful lack of discipline led to two red cards and two penalties in a controversial and stormy second half in Inchicore.
Dundalk had two players subbed in the first half as they struggled to keep their shape in a scrappy and poor game. The Saints had a seemingly legitimate appeal for a penalty after 10 minutes when Kevin Doyle was tripped inside the area by former Saint, Stephen McGuinness. Paul McKeon waved play on.
The real fun started on 70 minutes as the tiny and subdued attendance were finally given something to shout about when Dundalk substitute Chris Lawless was sent off for deliberate handball off Martin Russell's goalbound shot. The incident was not spotted by the referee, Paul McKeon, but after consultation with the assistant McKeown pointed to the spot. That was the cue for the Dundalk team to begin their fruitless protests and it was no suprise to anyone in the ground when one of their players, James Keddy, already on a yellow card, was dismissed for dissent in scenes very similiar to the penalty decision against Galway United earlier this season.
When order was eventually restored Martin Russell's penalty came back off John Connolly's left-hand post but thankfully Charles Mbabazi Livingstone was on hand to fire home the rebound for his tenth goal of the season and his second against Dundalk in the league.
Dundalk's proverbial nightmare continued as they then had captain David Crawley carried off on a stretcher on 86 minutes as he was unable to take any further part in the increasingly scrappy contest.
More misery for Martin Murray's side came 2 minutes later as a second penalty was awarded to the home team when Ciarán Kavanagh up-ended Ger McCarthy as he chased the pacey striker into the area. Martin Russell took no chances with his second spot kick of the night, rifling the ball straight down the middle to give the Saints a deserved 2 goal win. A welcome three points for the Saints but one of the worst games played this season.
ST PATRICK'S ATH: S Kelly; Croly, Maguire, Colm Foley, Burke; Marney, Osam, Russell (Mannion 90); McCarthy, Mbabazi (Harris 89), K Doyle.
DUNDALK: Connolly; Hoey (Lawless 40), Broughan, McGuinness, Crawley; Kavanagh, Flanagan, Dunne (Prizeman 30), Keddy; Haylock, Nesovic (Reilly 73).
Referee: P McKeon (Dublin).
