Bohemians warmed up for an FAI Ford Cup semi-final against Cork City on Friday with a comfortable eircom League of Ireland Premier Division victory over UCD at Dalymount Park tonight.
First-half goals from Michael McGinley and Darren Mansaram were enough for Sean Connor's men as they continued their surge towards a possible European place via the league.
It was their fifth League win in a row and with Cork losing at home to St Patrick's Athletic it means the Gypsies have now leapfrogged their opponents on Friday into third position in the table.
This game could well have been a dress rehearsal for the Cup final - the Students face Longford Town in the other semi-final on Sunday - and if that is the case then Connor's men will be strong favourites to prevail.
The home side made the best start possible and were a goal to the good inside the opening four minutes.
After an injury-plagued season Harpal Singh was only making his third start, but it was his cross that was met by McGinley at the far post and he powered a header beyond the outreached palm of Matt Gregg.
McGinley’s impact has not been much more than Singh's, yet he notched his second goal in four starts last night and his second in as many games since moving from the Cincinnati Kings back in July.
UCD had their moments and Fran Moran nearly got them an equaliser when Owen Heary cleared his shot off the line halfway through the opening half, but the game looked to be over on 38 minutes when Mansaram put the hosts two up.
Singh was again involved when he crashed a shot at Matt Gregg and after the keeper parried it against his post Mansaram was there to claim his fifth league goal of the season.
And Mansaram could have had his second of the night on 53 minutes when his low shot had Gregg beaten, but the ball fortuitously rebounded off the post back into the arms of the Students' stopper.
Bohemians: Murphy; Heary, McGuinness, Pooley, Powell; McGinley, Hunt (O’Donnell, 68 mins), McCann, Singh (Richardson, 68); Mansaram (Harkin, 60), Crowe.
UCD: Gregg; Shorthall (Doyle, 73 mins), McMillan (Kenna, 63), McNally, Bermingham; McWalter, McDonnell, King, McFaul (Finn, 41), C Byrne; Moran.
Ref: T Connolly (Dublin).
