Bohemians 3 Galway United 0

A couple of recent defeats ensured Bohemians were especially keen to make a statement by earning three points at Dalymount Park and it was a mission accomplished with surprising ease.

Galway United’s alarming league slide continued as the Gypsies were far too crafty for the naive visitors. Bohemians dominated from the outset controlling matters against a depleted Galway outfit, who are miserably low on confidence.

The opening period was as encouraging for Bohs as it was grim for Galway. Keith Long’s side made a smart start netting two goals inside 26 minutes to seize the initiative against struggling Galway, who proved to be accommodating opponents.

Only nine minutes had elapsed when Ismahil Akinade punished poor Galway defending confidently drilling Bohs ahead. Galway were in severe distress conceding a second when Jake Kelly slammed home the rebound after Akinade's header from a Lorcan Fitzgerald delivery had struck the crossbar.

After the restart Galway’s evening of woe continued when substitute Enda Curran was sent off in the 63rd minute for a foul on Bohs defender Stephen Best.

Bohs sealed the deal in the 88th minute when a penalty was awarded when Gary Shanahan collided with Kelly in the area. Recent Bohs recruit Kelly converted the spot-kick with ice cool assurance and from then until the death goalkeeper Hanley had to be alert making a string of further saves to keep the scoreline respectable. Four league defeats on the spin ensures Galway’s tussle with Drogheda United at Eamonn Deacy Park on Monday will be critical.

Bohemians: Delany; Murphy, Prendergast, Best, Fitzgerald (Caffrey, 90); Mulcahy (Wearen, 90), Lopes; Kavanagh, Buckley, Kelly (Byrne, 90); Akinade.

Galway United: Hanley; Raftery, Oji, Cantwell, Horgan; Shanahan, Sinnott (Ludden, 58, O'Leary, 72), Byrne, Molloy; Keegan, Walsh (Curran, 24).

Referee: J McKell (Tipperary).