Christy Fagan, second from right, St Patrick's Athletic, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal with team-mates James Chambers, left and Greg Bolger.

Two teams with differing ambitions for the season ahead and, ultimately, two teams with a massive gulf in quality.

St Pat’s could afford several sloppy spells but the writing was on the wall for Bray Wanderers after just five minutes at Richmond Park last night.

Killian Brennan and Chris Forrester both hit the back of the net early on and the visitors simply had no answer.

Four minutes in, Greg Bolger’s driving run from midfield was halted when Bray skipper Alan McNally took him down inside the area and Brennan coolly dispatched the spot-kick.

The home side doubled their lead a minute later when they again did damage down the right. This time it was Ian Bermingham and his cut-back was expertly finished by Forrester.

Had Chris Lyons capitalised on a mistake in the Pat’s defence shortly after, Bray might have found a way back into the game but the striker’s poor miss summed up the Seagulls’ woes.

At times, the Saints looked less than impressive at the back but Brendan Clarke ensured that he kept a clean sheet on his 150th appearance for the club.

James Chambers had the chance to put the result beyond any doubt before the break but he fired wide from eight yards.

Chambers made amends on the hour mark however when he crossed for last season’s joint top scorer Christy Fagan to open his account for this campaign.

Bray’s Daniel O’Reilly had a header come back off the post and Ryan McEvoy had a goal ruled out for offside but it was an all too easy win for Pat’s.

St Patrick’s Athletic – Clarke; McCormack, Hoare, Browne, Bermingham (c); Chambers, Bolger, Brennan; Forrester (Greene 84), Fagan (Kilduff 75), Byrne (Guedje 87).

Bray Wanderers – McGuinness; Barker, McNally (c), O’Reilly, Memery; Scully (Douglas 69), Gallagher, McEvoy, McGlynn (Onwubiko 89); Kelly; Lyons (McDonagh 78).

ref – D Tomney (Dublin)

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