The sense of deja vu was palpable for Kilkenny City at Dalymount Park last night as Bohemians administered another pitiful beating which, though not equalling their 8-1 defeat at the same venue back in September, was just as demoralising. The result all but mathematically relegates Kilkenny, and that will be confirmed if UCD beat Drogheda United, who would thus also be formally relegated, at Belfield tomorrow.

Bohemians were a goal to the good after 15 minutes when Graham Lawlor, who is attracting the interest of English second division side Watford, rose unchallenged to loop a header beyond John Connolly from Brian Mooney's cross. Lawlor then got a second on 31 minutes after a mistake by Kilkenny's sweeper Martin Reid.

It was all over as a match seven minutes later when Bohemians' captain, Tony O'Connor, blasted low past Connolly for the third goal. Central defender Maurice O'Driscoll then got in on the act to score with a free header from a Derek Swan free-kick.

Both sides were reduced to 10 players when Swan and Kilkenny's Pierce Walsh were sent off for fighting nine minutes into the second-half.

Kilkenny had by that stage pulled a goal back when Aidan Cooney shot home after a Brendan Rea header had come back off the crossbar from Gareth Kelly's free-kick within four minutes of the re-start. And it was the away side who finished with a scoring flourish, scoring twice in the final six minutes through Paul Cashin and Richie Hale.

Bohemians: Dempsey; Broughan, O'Driscoll, Mullen, Byrne; McGrath, Doolin, O'Connor, Mooney; Swan, Lawlor.

Kilkenny City: Connolly; Breen, Rea, Reid, R. Walsh, G. Kelly; D. Walsh, P. Walsh, Cashin, Cooney; Reddy. Subs: Hale for Reid (half-time), Carolan for D. Walsh (68 mins.), Smith for Breen (72 mins.).

Referee: G Perry (Dublin).