Bohemians maintained their outstanding form with a fifth straight league win to move to within two points of league leaders Shamrock Rovers at the top of the Premier Division table.
This latest victory over a disjointed St Pat’s also provided the sort of tonic manager Keith Long would have desired ahead of their Europa League trip to Hungary on Thursday.
Unchanged for the third successive game, Bohs went ahead thanks to a freak goal on 16 minutes.
Left-back Anto Breslin’s floated cross from the left touchline caught a swirl of wind to outfox Brendan Clarke and arc into the far corner of his net.
And it was 2-0 on 23 minutes as the visitors were badly exposed from a set-piece.
Keith Ward whipped in a corner from the left and Andre Wright brushed off marker Lee Desmond all too easily as he scarcely had to jump to find the net with a cushioned header.
With Saints at sixes-and-sevens at the back, only a complete mis-kick from skipper Buckley prevented Bohs extending their lead.
Though the visitors showed some improvement from the restart, it was Bohs who came closest to scoring with the impressive Kris Twardek smashing a 73rd-minute shot off the crossbar.
Substitute Darragh Markey did have a chance in stoppage time for Saints but his deflected shot was saved by Stephen McGuinness.
