St. Patrick’s Athletic will travel to Russia on a high following this deserved 1-0 over a disappointing Dundalk side.

The Saints obviously didn’t celebrate too hard after their famous victory over Krylya Sovetov as they survived an early scare to dominate proceedings with Gareth O’Connor’s second half strike securing the points.

Dundalk should have been in front within the opening 30 seconds when Chris Turner’s inch perfect through ball split the Saints’ defence and found Alex Williams. But the striker, who has been prolific since joining the Louth club, couldn’t beat Gary Rogers with a low effort from ten metres.

He should have done better, and having started so brightly the vocal travelling support must have been confident their side would go on and score but instead they withdrew and wouldn’t have another chance for the rest of the half.

St. Pat’s assumed control of the ball. They were limited to long range shots for the most part with Ryan Guy, Gareth O’Connor and Damien Lynch all having a go, but their best chances were spurned by Glenn Fitzpatrick.

On 28 minutes, Simon Kelly failed to deal with Bobby Ryan’s cross while under pressure from Guy and when his weak header fell to the unmarked striker in space the goal beckoned, but instead he fired over with a poor effort.

As the half time whistle approached Fitzpatrick was given a chance to redeem himself, but again he messed up a gilt edged chance when Jason Gavin got down the right wing and found him with an excellent cross only for the former Shelbourne frontman to opt for a lay off rather than shoot and the chance was gone.

St. Pat’s pushed for the lead after the break, but while they continued to dominate possession and force corners and frees, they couldn’t make the breakthrough.

Ryan Guy and Dave Partridge both went close with headers, but the chances dried up and the game looked like it was heading for a dull scoreless draw until O’Connor struck.

He let Bobby Ryan’s pass run across him and hit a rising drive from the edge of the box that flew past Peter Cherrie and into the top corner.

Dundalk chased an equaliser but never looked like scoring and Fitzpatrick went the closest for the Saints, forcing Cherrie into a fine save.

St. Patrick’s Athletic:Rogers; Gavin, Partridge, Jamie Harris, Stevens; Guy, Dempsey (Byrne 65), Lynch (Cawley 68), O’Connor, Ryan; Fitzpatrick (Leech 88).

Dundalk: Cherrie; McGowan, Burns, Heary , Kelly; Mulvenna, Collins, Turner, McKinlay (Mansaram 58); Williams, Rowe.

Ref: A Buttimer (Cork).