Bohemians maintained their lead at the top of the Premier Division table thanks to a thumping 5-0 win over ten-man Cork City at Dalymount Park.
Colin Healy's strugglers started the better of the two teams in Dublin 7 – but Jordan Flores’ superb free-kick gave Bohs the lead moments after Cork were reduced to ten men.
Ally Gilchrist was the guilty party for the Rebel Army as he lashed out at former Celtic striker Jonathan Afolabi with a petulant kick after the pair battled against one another for the ball.
But before then Cork should have been in front after an encouraging start to the contest as Ruairi Keating forced a world-class save from James Talbot to keep it level.
📽️ | A master at work!
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Check out another stunner from Jordan Flores that has given Bohemians the lead over Cork City! 👏#BOHCOR | #LOI pic.twitter.com/RL0IJq6Jx9
Adam McDonnell then made it 2-0 just before the hour mark – with a brace from Ali Coote and a late strike from James McManus putting the gloss on their win.
Keating’s opportunity came inside 27 seconds of the game starting as he was found by Barry Coffey’s superbly-weighted cross into the six-yard box.
The former Galway United striker headed down into the ground, but Talbot was on hand to spring himself across his goal-line to deny the lively hitman.
And City’s frustration grew minutes later when referee Adriano Reale pulled an attack back for a free-kick back despite the advantage that was available to Coffey who bore down on goal.
Bohs however came to life shortly after with long-range sighters from Paddy Kirk and Flores waking up the sold-out Dalymount Park crowd.
And they got their reward on the half-hour mark when Gilchrist was dismissed.
The former Derry City defender tussled for the ball with Afolabi - but the Scot was adjudged to have kicked out at Afolabi.
Flores then nestled his free-kick into the top corner as City keeper Daniel Moynihan was left stumped by his defender’s moment of madness – and Flores’ free-kick.
Bohs doubled their lead in the 57th minute through McDonnell’s impromptu cross turn shot that creeped into the far corner of the net after Flores’ searching pass found the former Sligo Rovers man in space.
The Gypsies then made it 3-0 in the 78th minute as Coote found the net after getting on the end of a cross from Twardek to finish coolly.
And the sub doubled his tally two minutes later as rolled home after being found by a Declan McDaid cross into the box.
Teenager James McManus rounded off the scoring thanks to a superb strike from distance – as Bohs left Dalymount in fine fettle ahead of Friday’s clash against their bitter rivals Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium.
Bohemians: James Talbot; Grant Horton, Patrick Kirk, Krystian Nowak, Kacper Radkowski; Jordan Flores (James Clarke, 73), Adam McDonnell (James McManus, 61), Kris Twardek; Jonathan Afolabi, Dylan Connolly (Declan McDaid, 70), Dean Williams (Ali Coote, 70).
Cork City: Daniel Moynihan; Cian Coleman, Ally Gilchrist, Josh Honohan; Darragh Crowley, Aaron Bolger (John O’Donovan, 73), Matt Healy, Albin Winbo (Gordon Walker, 69); Barry Coffey (Daniel Krezic, 61), Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh (Tunde Owolabi, 61); Ruairi Keating (Cian Murphy, 61).
Referee: Adriano Reale (Kildare).
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