Champions keep the leaders in sight with fourth win from five

Bohemians 3 UCD 1:GOALS FROM Jason Byrne, the impressive Gareth McGlynn and Mark Quigley made it four wins from five in the league for Bohemians as they moved up to second in the table.

And while UCD made a match of it despite being 2-0 down at the break, Bohemians deserved their win. The only blemish was the result from Inchicore which sees Pat Fenlon’s champions still seven points behind Shamrock Rovers.

Fenlon’s men set a good early tempo and, save for a couple of hairy moments, were full value for their 2-0 interval lead.

Byrne had a chance to put pressure on College on 10 minutes, but his shot on the turn, after good work by Conor Powell, Raffaele Cretaro and McGlynn set him up, was over the top.

That let-off allowed UCD to express themselves, and they’d two chances inside three minutes.

Karl Moore whipped in a telling ball from the left to the near post and Brian Shortall’s diving header needed a good save from Chris O’Connor. Moore was then not far over from a dipping free-kick.

Anthony Buttimer’s refereeing was frustrating Bohemians and captain Owen Heary was booked for dissent after Jason McGuinness had a 22nd-minute “goal” disallowed for offside.

But there was nothing wrong with the lead goal on 29 minutes.

On the counter, Killian Brennan and McGlynn worked the ball to Byrne who held off Evan McMillan before drilling past Billy Brennan.

Bohemians got the second, a well-worked strike, on 37 minutes.

Quigley showed nibble feet from Heary’s pass to set-up McGlynn who rifled to the roof of the net from the edge of the area.

The woodwork denied Byrne a second goal on 58 minutes when his header hit a post.

College didn’t lie down and got some reward on 68 minutes. After a corner worked short substitute Chris Mulhall crossed and Paul Corry shot home.

But Quigley put the seal on the win on 84 minutes after Paddy Madden had won possession from full-back Paul O’Conor.

BOHEMIANS: O’Connor; Heary, Shelley, McGuinness, Powell; Quigley, Cronin (Higgins, 90 mins), McGlynn, Brennan; Cretaro (Greene, 87 mins), Byrne (Madden, 72 mins).

UCD: Brennan; O’Conor, E McMillan, Leahy, Shortall; Ward (Mulhall, h/t), Bolger, Corry, Moore; Rusk (Wilson, 82 mins), Kilduff.

Referee: Anthony Buttimer (Cork).

Attendance: 890.