By Glenn Mason.
Two late goals in the space of 30 seconds from substitutes Jason Byrne and Raffaele Cretaro gave Bohemians a 2-1 win over ten-man UCD at Belfield.
The duo were among the league's top scorers last season and showed that they have lost none of their edge over the winter.
The fact that Bohs were able to start players of that calibre on the bench shows the financial gulf between these sides.
Greg Bolger had put UCD ahead from the penalty spot on 58 minutes after Bohs goalkeeper Chris O'Connor had fouled Ciaran Kilduff.
Bolger was then sent-off for a second bookable offence and Bohs took complete control and bombarded the UCD goal with crosses and shots in search for a leveller.
Byrne drilled in an equaliser as UCD were caught on the break on 82 minutes.
Before the Bohs fans had stopped celebrating, Cretaro curled the home winning goal.
It was cruel on UCD as they had defended resolutely for the period after Bolger's dismissal and probably thought they were going to pull off a shock win over the defending champions.
Captain Evan McMillan returned from a knee injury for the Students and replaced the suspended Sean Harding.
Bohemians made six changes to the side that drew with Glentoran in the Setanta Cup on Saturday.
Owen Heary, Steven Gray, Gareth McGlynn, Paul Keegan, Paddy Madden and Killian Brennan came into the starting line-up.
Glenn Cronin could have put Bohemians ahead as early as the seventh minute, but he dragged a shot wide after Mark Quigley had flicked on.
Bohs were dominant in possession in the first half but that dominance failed to yield anything other than half-chances, as UCD's five-man midfield worked hard to cut down the space in their own half.
Paul Keegan, who had been impressive in the Bohs midfield, was the next to go close for the visitors.
UCD 'keeper Billy Brennan failed to hold a corner from his namesake Killian, but Keegan fired the rebound over the bar.
Bohs may have had more time on the ball, but UCD were doing their best to add to the entertainment in the little time they had on the ball.
As half-time approached, Brian Shorthall's pass put Chris Mulhall in behind Conor Powell, but a poor first touch from the winger saw the ball easily gathered by O'Connor.
Owen Heary was then denied an opening goal by a brilliant goal-line clearance from Stephen Roche.
The Bohs captain's downward header from Keegan's corner was on its way in, only for Roche to boot the ball to safety.
Bohs fans were growing anxious as their side struggled in the final third.
That anxiety turned to shock when UCD took a surprise lead on 56 minutes.
Mulhall turned inside Powell and played in Kilduff, who was upended by the advancing O'Connor. Bolger blasted the spot-kick down the middle as O'Connor dived right.
Pat Fenlon reacted to going a goal down by bringing on Byrne, Cretaro and Anto Murphy.
Cretaro and Byrne were to prove crucial to the final outcome.
UCD's task was overwhelming once Bolger was sent-off for a second bookable offence.
He had been booked for dissent in the first half and was then adjudged to have kicked the ball away.
Bohs pushed relentlessly for an equaliser and UCD were indebted to Andy Boyle for preserving the lead, as he threw himself in front of Quigley's goal-bound effort.
Gareth McGlynn then wasted a glorious opportunity for his first Bohs goal as he stumbled on Brennan's superb left-wing cross.
An equalising goal seemed inevitable as the UCD defence came under constant pressure, but even Bohs were surprised to score twice in quick succession.
Byrne showed why he is regarded as one of the league's deadliest strikers on 82 minutes as he fired Bohs level after Quigley pulled the ball back on the edge of the box.
Before UCD had time to contemplate being level, Bohs were ahead as Cretaro curled the ball beyond Brennan for the winning goal to the delight of the travelling support.
The win leaves the champions top of the Premier Division table with two wins from two.
UCD: 1 Brennan; 2 Shorthall (12 Leahy '66), 4 Boyle, 5 E McMillan, 3 Nangle; 6 Bolger, 7 Ward (13 Creevy h/t), 8 Roche, 10 Rusk (14 McMillan '84), 11 Mulhall; 9 Kilduff.
Subs not used: 15 Fitzgerald, 16 McGinlay.
Booked: Mulhall, Shorthall, Bolger.
Sent-off: Bolger 68.
Bohemians: 25 O'Connor; 2 Heary, 5 Gray (15 Byrne '76), 6 Shelly (12 A Murphy' 58), 3 Powell; 7 McGlynn, 4 Cronin, 8 Keegan, 11 Brennan; 9 Quigley, 10 Madden (14 Cretaro '61).
Subs not used: 1 B Murphy, 16 Higgins.
Booked: Gray, Cronin.
Referee: T Connolly.
