Bohemians yesterday celebrated their UEFA Cup success over Aberdeen last week with a facile win over UCD to put them top of the Premier Division. UCD manager Martin Moran's fears about playing Bohemians after their European success were well founded as Roddy Collins' side were clearly still on song.
With a representative of German club Kaiserslautern - their UEFA Cup opponents - watching, Bohemians impressed from the start and deserved more than their one-goal winning margin. The goal came in the 29th minute, when a cross from Mark Dempsey wasn't cleared and Glen Crowe scored from 10 yards.
It got only marginally better for UCD in the second-half as Bohemians appeared to take a breather.
They upped it again for the final 20 minutes and should have got much more for their efforts.
Shaun Maher had a header tipped over by Barry Ryan while the UCD goalkeeper had his hands stung on further occasions, from Kevin Hunt and Tony O'Connor.
On 90 minutes, Clive Delaney almost snatched an equaliser for UCD as he got forward to slide the ball past the otherwise idle Wayne Russell.
Thankfully for Bohemians, Maher got back to clear off the line.
"It was almost too easy in the first-half," said Collins. "We were excellent, but need to be far more clinical in front of goal."
UCD: Ryan; McLoughlin, Delaney, McAuley, O'Donnell; Dunne, Martyn, Kavanagh, Martin; Grogan, O'Byrne. Subs: Mooney for Dunne (63 mins.), Mahon for Martyn (71 mins.).
BOHEMIANS: Russell; O'Connor, Maher, Hill, Webb; Morrison, Hunt, Caffrey, Mark Dempsey; O'Neill, Crowe. Subs: Hopper for Dempsey (inj. 57 mins.), Williamson for O'Neill (80 mins.).
Referee: J Feighery (Dublin).
