Anto Murphy's first Premier Division goals for St Patrick's Athletic gave them the best preparation ahead of next weeks FAI Cup semi final clash with Shamrock Rovers as they beat Bray Wanderers 5-1.
The midfielder bagged a first half double as the Dubliners handed Bray their 20th League defeat of the year at Richmond Park.
The Saints took an 18th minute lead through a breakaway goal on their way to a fourth victory in a row.
Andrei Georgescu's cross was powerfully headed clear by Darragh Maguire. Paul Keegan collected and threaded a pass down the left channel for Sean O'Connor. The covering Ronan Ivory appeared to have it covered but mis-cued.
O'Connor nipped in, rode a Stephen Gifford tackle and cut the ball for Anto Murphy to claim his first top flight score of the season by slipping low under Chris O'Connor.
They made it 2-0 just before the half hour. Ivory fouled Sean O'Connor near the left wing end-line. From a set-piece straight off the training ground, Michael Foley's low delivery found the unmarked Trevor Molloy who slotted to the net from ten yards with a swivelling shot.
But the visitors responded in the 32nd minute. David Tyrrell split the home defence top allow Georgescu beat the offside trap down the left flank. The Romanian fired a low left footed shot across Barry Ryan into the far corner.
However, the hosts led 3-1 at the interval. Stephen Quigley's floated cross from the right saw Murphy rose above the challenging Chris O'Connor and Stephen Fox to head into an empty net from 12-yards.
The points were settled in the 72nd minute. Only the pitch 90 seconds, sub Mark Quigley linked with O'Connor then Molloy before curling into the roof of the net from 20 yards.
Michael Roche was credited with a last minute own goal in a goalmouth scramble after a Stephen Brennan centre to give John McDonnell's charges their biggest success of the campaign.
St Patrick's Athletic: Ryan; S Quigley, Maguire, Foley, Brennan; Rutherford, Murphy (Fahey 79 mins), Foley, S O’Connor; Keegan (M Quigley 69 mins), Molloy (Armstrong 74 mins).
Bray Wanderers: C O'Connor; Ivory, Gifford (O'Brien 64 mins), Roche, O'Reilly; Georgescu (Cousins 83 mins), Fox, Caffrey, Tyrrell; O'Shea (Fitzgerald 77 mins), Broderick.
Referee: Alan Kelly (Cork).
