Bohemians 5 Limerick 0
Bohemians produced an impressive attacking display at Dalymount Park to comfortably see off the challenge of Limerick.
Following the high of their triumph over Munster rivals Waterford seven days earlier, this result comes as a major set-back for the second-from-bottom Limerick.
The sides had proven to be inseparable during their three previous encounters in this year’s top-flight – which included a 0-0 draw at the same venue in April.
However, Bohs dispelled notions of another scoreless affair when Kevin Devaney headed home from close range in the 28th minute.
Seventh-place Bohs were beginning to play with the kind of confidence that propelled them towards a 6-0 home victory over Bray Wanderers a fortnight ago, and JJ Lunney subsequently doubled their lead with a cool side-footed finish.
Limerick introduced Danny Morrissey and Coleman Hennessy after the break in an effort to halt Bohs’ momentum. Yet, this only acted as a catalyst for the Gypsies to place the outcome beyond doubt.
An unstoppable long-distance strike by midfielder Keith Buckley established a three-goal cushion, before substitutes Danny Grant and Eoghan Stokes’s penalty rounded off the scoring in the closing quarter.
BOHEMIANS: Supple; Pender, Morris (Byrne, 76 mins), Casey, Leahy; Buckley, Lunney; Kelly (Grant, 72 mins), Ward (Stokes, 76 mins), Devaney; Corcoran.
LIMERICK: Holland; Kelly, Coleman, Brouder, Dennehy; Duggan, Murphy (Hennessy, 62 mins); O’Sullivan, Maguire (Morrissey, 62 mins), Fitzgerald (Walsh-O’Loughlin, 74 mins); Ellis.
Referee: D Tomney (Dublin).