Bohemians got their title challenge back on track with a 3-0 victory over Dundalk at Dalymount Park.
Paddy Madden netted the opener on 50 minutes when slotting past Matt Gregg after the Dundalk defence failed to clear Aaron Greene’s cross.
Dundalk then had sub Michael McGowan sent off for a tough tackle on Raffaele Cretaro and from the resulting free kick Ruaidhri Higgins netted number two on 86 minutes.
Gareth McGlynn danced through the Dundalk defence and curled the third past Gregg on 90.
Mike Davies, manager of Welsh side TNS, who face Bohs in the Champions League qualifiers next month, was in attendance and saw the Dubliners struggle early on against a tough Dundalk side.
Lillywhites boss Ian Foster played former Bohs favourite Neal Fenn as a lone striker in front of five-man midfield.
Though this formation alternated with a 4-3-2-1 if the play dictated.
Bohs soon settled into the groove of things and Mark Quigley had chances on 9 and 14 minutes before Dundalk goalkeeper Gregg saved on his line from McGlynn on 16.
Owen Heary then tried his luck with a pile drive from about 25 yards out on 20 minutes but he put too much power in the shot and the ball sailed just over Gregg’s crossbar.
McGlynn had a shot on 24 minutes at the tail end of an impressive Bohs move but fired tamely at Gregg from outside the area.
Madden was then gifted a glorious opportunity to put Bohs one ahead when he latched onto a pass from his strike partner Greene.
However Madden somehow managed the smash the ball high over the target with an effort that would have secured a point at Croke Park but nothing at this venue.
Madden redeemed himself five minutes into the second half when he pounced for the opener.
Greene’s ball into the box wasn’t cleared by the Dundalk defence and Madden took possession and rifled a low shot into the bottom right corner of the net.
Madden went close to netting his second on 70 minutes but Dundalk defender Garry Breen blocked his shot from inside the area.
McGowan, on the pitch less than a minute, was sent off for that tackle on Cretaro and from the resulting free kick Higgins netted number two.
McGlynn danced unchallenged through the Dundalk defence and curled the third past Gregg on 90.
Bohemians: Murphy; Heary, Powell, Oman, Rossiter; Higgins, McGlynn, Keegan, Quigley (Dixon 90+2); Greene (Cretaro 64 mins), Madden.
Dundalk: Gregg; Kelly, McGuigan (Cawley 68 mins), G Breen, Hatswell; Miller, Maher, Kuduzovic, Melligan, Gaynor (McGowan 83); Fenn.
Referee: A Kelly (Cork)
Attendance: 1615.
