SOCCER: St Patrick's Ath 5 Galway United 2:HAVING SCORED three against Drogheda on Friday, St Patrick's thrilled their support with another five – though giving Galway a 2-0 lead wasn't exactly in the plan.

Seán Connor’s westerners raced into a 2-0 lead by 19 minutes.

St Patrick’s had had a penalty shout for a foul on Danny North waved away before Evan McMillan made a goal-saving tackle on Alan Murphy at the other end, all inside the first six minutes.

Three minutes later Galway were in front when Brian Cash’s low cross from the right was flicked home by Shane Keogh.

Galway doubled their lead from Murphy’s emphatically struck penalty after his initial shot had been handled by Paul Crowley.

On 24 minutes Daryl Kavanagh raced clear on to a ball over the top to shoot past Greg Fleming.

The home side levelled on 39 minutes. Stephen Bradley whipped in a free from the left and midfield partner Crowley found the net with a glancing header.

On 59 minutes Anto Murphy’s long throw was headed home by McMillan.

Doyle made it 4-2 on 64 minutes when following up to rifle home after North shot against a post, and North got the fifth himself three minutes later driving low to the net.

Galway finished with 10 when Shaun Kelly got a second booking.

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Rogers; Pender, E McMillan (Mulcahy, 73 mins), Shortall, Carroll; Stewart (Murphy, 58 mins), Crowley, Bradley, Doyle; North, Kavanagh (D McMillan, 76 mins).

GALWAY UNITED: Fleming; Shaun Kelly, Sinnott, G Kelly, Walsh (Gartland, 89 mins); Cash, Feeney (Eduardo, 80 mins), Sean Kelly, Moore; Keogh (Gilmore, 66 mins), Murphy.

Referee: Neil Doyle (Dublin).