Bohemians - 3 Finn Harps - 1: A miserable night it was for bottom club Finn Harps whose position grows ever more perilous with six matches remaining to save themselves from the drop. Bohemians dictated in every department. Player-manager Gareth Farrelly was particularly impressive and his confidence and awareness on the ball were instrumental in Harps' downfall.

The visitors tried to frustrate Bohemians in the opening minutes but despite impressive ball retention, their surges forward rarely troubled the home defence.

Bohemians were without captain Kevin Hunt for family reasons, but Mark O'Brien stepped in to partner Farrelly in the middle and between them they ran the area.

The duo linked well with wingers Aidan O'Keeffe and Fergal Harkin and the confident manner in which the quartet sprayed the ball around left Harps on the back foot from an early stage.

The visitors were forced to play very deep and couldn't prevent Farrelly and O'Keeffe making space.

Harps were hit with a double-whammy. On 22 minutes, Farrelly was gifted possession after full back Eloka Asokuh carelessly conceded to O'Keeffe and, after collecting from his team-mate, the former Irish international raced to the edge of the area and curled a low shot past goalkeeper Gavin Cullen.

Two minutes later, Bohemians doubled their lead. Again they channelled their attack down Asokuh's wing and although the defender was certainly struggling with his game, he received no assistance from Stephen Capper up the line. When O'Keeffe easily won possession just inside the box, he fired the ball in off the post to the net.

Substitutes Chris Breen and Conor Gethins brought more urgency to the Harps cause and on 66 minutes Gethins crossed for Kevin McHugh and the striker prodded past goalkeeper Matt Gregg.

But whatever hope that instilled was crushed nine minutes later. Full back Niall O'Reilly turned Asokuh and crossed for Ward who shot straight at Cullen. The goalkeeper could only parry the ball back to the striker and he duly dispatched it with his head to complete a comfortable victory with O'Brien's late sending off for a second yellow the only blemish.

BOHEMIANS: Gregg; O'Reilly, Collins, Oman, Keddy; Harkin, Farrelly, O'Brien, O'Keeffe; Grant, Ward. Subs: Powell for O'Keeffe (84 mins), Duggan for Grant (90 mins).

FINN HARPS: Cullen; Asokuh, Boyle, Bradley, Minnock; Capper, Funston, McGowan, Lauchlan; McGrenaghan McHugh. Subs: Breen and Gethins for Capper and McGrenaghan (half-time).

Referee: A Kelly (Cork)