Shamrock Rovers hardly got out of second gear to ease past basement boys Bray Wanderers and boost their hopes of finishing in the top four this season.
Graham Burke goals sandwiched a Sam Bone screamer and Dan Carr added a fourth, before Dave McAllister's icing on the cake.
Yet many in attendance will remember this game for then contribution of Brandon Kavanagh, making his full debut for Stephen Bradley's talented side.
This game was pretty much a dead rubber after just three minutes when Conor Kenna handled the ball on the line after a fierce drive from the aforementioned Kavanagh, a foolish move which saw him sent off and Rovers given a penalty. Burke, playing for the first time since his goal for Ireland against USA, converted.
Rovers, quite remarkably, gave a debut in goal to 16-year-old Gavin Bazunu, whose physique makes a mockery of his youth. He looked a little nervous in parrying a drive from former Hoop Gary McCabe – who would get a warm reception from the home crowd when substituted injured later – but the net-minder grew in confidence thereafter.
It really ought to have been two when, after Evan Moran parried Burke's drive, Carr failed to get enough power on the rebound and it was cleared away.
Brandon Kavanagh, while seemingly unusually reliant on his left foot, looks a smashing prospect for the Hoops. The teenager showed stupendous technique to volley Burke's corner goalwards on 28 minutes but Moran got down smartly to collect.
Clever play from Greg Bolger resulted in Carr having a sight of the nets five minutes before the break but his strike – like Lee Grace's header on the half-time whistle – was too high.
Bray had a glimmer of hope until eight minutes into the second half when Bone, utilising the outside of his left foot, curled home a peach of a second from outside the box.
Carr probably should have scored on 62 minutes but his shot from inside the box went wide, while Burke also went close as Bray wished the game away. He made no mistake with 15 minutes left after being put through by Brandon Kavanagh, who shortly afterwards left the pitch to a standing ovation.
Carr tapped home a fourth with seven minutes left as Moran looked vainly for the offside flag, while McAllister's fifth with three minutes left was another goal of the month contender.
Shamrock Rovers: Bazunu, S Kavanagh, Grace, O'Brien, Boyle, Coustrain, Bone (A Bolger 73), G Bolger (McAllister 79), B Kavanagh (Boyd 78), Burke, Carr.
Bray Wanderers: Moran, Lynch, Kenna, Heaney, Gibbons, McKenna, Kelly, Galvin, O'Connor, McCabe (Gorman 51), Coughlan (Pender 71).
Referee: Anthony Buttimer.
