Waterford United - 1 Bohemians - 3 Champions Bohemians showed their class at the RSC last night when they brushed aside a spirited challenge from Waterford United. Waterford recovered from the worst possible start to get back on level terms but they were despatched in the last 10 minutes when Bohemians produced two goals.

Bohemians rocked the home club with a goal after two minutes. Kevin Hunt jinked past three players into the penalty area and released the ball to Glen Crowe but his shot was deflected out by Willie Byrne. Robert Doyle took the corner from the left and Andre Pereplyotkin headed home from six yards.

Waterford's equaliser arrived on 13 minutes when a cross from the right by Thomas Hughes was met by Kevin Waters and his high, looping header sailed over Shay Kelly's head and into the net.

On 42 minutes Waterford's Alan Reilly unleashed a free-kick from 40 yards that flew inches wide of the near post while, a minute later, Dave Morrison went close for Bohemians. Just on the stroke of half-time, Gary O'Neill seemed certain to score for Waterford when he shot from 12 yards, but the ball cannoned off defender Colin Hawkins.

The pace dropped on the restart, but it was still breathtaking stuff and United almost went in front on 58 minutes when Vinnie Sullivan's shot on the run swerved just wide

Bohemians substitute Bobby Ryan almost scored an own-goal on 63 minutes when he tried to head the ball back to Kelly.

Bohemians regained the lead 10 minutes from time. Stephen Caffrey spotted the unmarked Morrison 15 yards out from goal and Morrison drilled the ball into the far corner of the net. Five minutes later, the champions put the game beyond Waterford when Colin Hawkins played a through-ball for Crowe and he held off the attentions of David Breen before chipping the ball over the head of the advancing Connor.

WATERFORD UNITED: Connor, Hughes, Frost, Breen, Byrne, Reilly, Mulcahy, Clifford, Waters, O'Neill (Murphy, 84 minutes), Sullivan. Substitutes not used: Cosgrove, Phelan, Mallon, Morris.

BOHEMIANS: Kelly, Caffrey, Webb, Hunt, Coughlan, Hawkins, Pereplyotkin (Keegan, 75 minutes), Harkin, Doyle (Ryan, 57 minutes), Crowe, Morrison. Subs not used: Lynch, Gregg, Rutherford.

Referee: J McDermott (Dublin).