Byrne and Bohemians run riot

SOCCER LEAGUE OF IRELAND PREMIER DIVISION: Bohemians 5 Dundalk 0: JASON BYRNE scored four as Bohemians ran riot against a Dundalk side which finished with nine men. Glen Crowe scored the other as the champions put on another powerhouse home performance.

The Co Louth side had Harpal Singh sent off on 53 minutes and, having used all three substitutes, lost Michael Daly to injury on 81 minutes.

Bohemians had the upper hand from the start in this entertaining match. Ken Oman showed good creativity on 10 minutes when he collected the ball, turned and shot, but saw his effort go over the bar. Then, on 18 minutes, Gary Deegan latched onto a Crowe knock down and shot from outside the box, but Chris Bennion made the vital save.

Dundalk defender Dave Rogers limped off with a hamstring injury and was replaced by Thomas Heary.

The breakthrough came on the half-hour when Michael Coburn lost possession just inside his half with a poor back pass. Byrne pounced on the ball and squared to Crowe, who made no mistake from just outside the six-yard box.

It began to go sour for Dundalk on 53 minutes when Singh was sent off having been shown a second yellow card. The first had come on 51 minutes for dissent, and the second, followed by the red, came from referee Anthony Buttimer after Singh’s strong tackle on Killian Brennan.

Byrne doubled the lead on 73 minutes when he slotted home a crisp penalty after Graham Carey had been taken down.

Dundalk lost Michael Daly to injury on 81 minutes and, having used their allotted three substitutes, where forced to play the final minutes with nine men.

With the numerical advantage Bohemians looked likely to score again and another three goals came their way courtesy of Byrne. On 83 he raced through to meet Anto Murphy’s throw-in and easily slotted past Bennion.

His third came on 90 minutes when he rounded Bennion at the left post, and he scored his fourth and Bohemians’ fifth in the fifth minute of added time, again at the left post from a Neale Fenn ball.

BOHEMIANS: Murphy; O Heary, Oman, Powell, Shelley; Brennan, Carey (Murphy, 76 mins), Deegan (McGuinness, 89 mins), Keegan; Byrne, Crowe (Fenn, 85 mins).

DUNDALK:Bennion; Kelly, Rogers (T Heary, 20 mins), Synott, Coburn; O'Callaghan, Singh, Turner, Rowe (O'Brien, 55 mins); Mansaram, Mulvenna (Daly half-time).

Referee: A Buttimer (Cork).