A goal in each half from in-form striker Paddy Madden gave Bohemians a 2-0 win over UCD at the UCD Bowl.
The young striker put Bohs ahead from the penalty spot inside the opening quarter hour and killed off the Students with a clinical finish with 18 minutes left.
UCD played their way back into the game after going behind, but had little to show for their efforts.
Bohs looked more like back-to-back champions than at any other part of the season and it was unfortunate for UCD that they met a side in such fine form.
In particular, Madden, Brian Shelley and Mark Quigley are coming into form at just the right time ahead of the Champions League qualifiers.
Bohs arguably have the best squad in the league and the gulf in class was evident. They could have made life far easier for themselves if they had made more of the opportunities that came their way.
UCD impressed on the ball and provided plenty of entertainment for the 737 punters that turned up to watch, but the result was never really in doubt once Bohs went ahead.
Martin Russell made three changes to the side that lost to Drogheda United at the weekend. Brian Shortall, Keith Ward and joint top scorer Ciaran Kilduff dropped to the bench, with Sean Harding, Stephen Roche and Graham Rusk coming in.
Raffaele Cretaro was recalled to the starting line-up in place of Mark Rossiter in Bohemians' only change. Cretaro partnered Madden up front, with Quigley proving a very effective operator on the left.
Bohs pressed from the start and UCD goalkeeper Billy Brennan did well to keep out headers from Madden and Cretaro inside the opening ten minutes.
Madden put Bohs ahead from the spot on 12 minutes following a series of errors by Paul Corry. The UCD midfielder lost the ball to Madden, then failed to clear the striker's cross before tripping Cretaro in the box.
The Students recovered from their nervy start as Greg Bolger and Dwayne Wilson came to the fore, with Wilson giving Conor Powell plenty to think about out wide.
However, Bohs were dominant in possession and looking more likely to get the next goal. Brennan got down to save a Cretaro snapshot and tip a McGlynn effort around the post late in the half.
Sean Harding gave Bohs a scare on the stroke of half-time when his fierce shot flew just past Barry Murphy's right-hand post.
Quigley was the first to go close after the restart but he could only find the side-netting from Brian Shelley's deep cross.
Kilduff came on for Corry and almost made an immediate impression when he raced past Owen Heary and fired narrowly wide.
Bohs were not afforded as much space in the second half, but still created chances and Brennan was once again in the way as Cretaro tried to beat him at the near post.
Gareth McGlynn should have doubled the lead on 70 minutes when Cretaro pulled the ball back to him, but with the goal gaping he skewed his shot out for a throw-in.
Madden secured the three points on 72 minutes with a cool finish after Cretaro had slipped him through on goal from the edge of the box.
UCD: 1 Billy Brennan; 2 Harding, 4 Boyle, 5 E McMillan, 3 Nangle; 6 Corry (15 Kilduff '56), 7 Roche (14 O'Conor '72), 8 Bolger; 10 Wilson, 11 Rusk (13 Ward '84); 9 Mulhall.
Subs not used: 12 Shortall, 16 Barron
Booked: Roche.
Bohemians: 1 Murphy; 2 Heary, 5 Shelley, 6 Oman, 3 Powell; 7 McGlynn, 4 Higgins, 8 Keegan, 14, Cretaro (16 Cronin '86); 9 Madden, 10 Quigley (12 Brennan '78).
Subs not used: 15 McGuinness, 18 Rossiter, 25 O'Connor.
Booked: Oman.
Referee: David McKeon.
Attendance: 737.
UCD 0-2 Bohemians
