Shamrock Rovers boss Stephen Bradley said his team produced their most complete performance of the season to sweep Bohemians aside in Friday night's SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division clash at Tallaght Stadium.
Bohs came into the derby desperate to hurt their bitter rivals' title hope while igniting their own. Declan Devine's charges had the chance to trim the gap between themselves and the table-topping Hoops to four points with a victory.
However, the hosts turned on the style to comfortably win 3-0. They're now ten points clear of Bohs and seven ahead of second-placed Derry City, who have a game in hand.
"I think it's our most complete performance we've had this season," Bradley told RTÉ Sport.
"We played with a tremendous freedom but a real intensity as well. To get that blend and that mix is really difficult. I thought we did that really well.
"They had a spell early on but after that I think we dominated the game in every aspect, every area of the pitch. I think we fully deserved to win 3-0."
Next up is a trip to Derry, where another three points would leave Shamrock Rovers at least seven points clear with six games to play. St Pat's are currently on the same amount of points as the Candystripes but with an inferior goal difference.
"We understand that what we've done tonight was really good but it's gone now," Bradley said when asked if his team had one hand on the title.
"We've got to focus on Derry. If it goes to the last game of the season we'll be ready, and if it doesn't it doesn't. But we'll be ready for whatever comes.
"It'll be a tough game, they're obviously a top side, but we like it there, we like the pitch. We don't like the surface, we like the size. It's a big pitch, it suits us. Our aim is to go and win three points."
Offering an update on Jack Byrne, who is recovering from a medial knee ligament injury, Bradley said: "We think Jack's good. He's doing a lot of work - running, bike - it's just certain movements he does and certain passes he's catching his knee, so we just need to be patient with it. But he's actually doing a lot of running, which is great. When he comes back it won't take him long to get up to speed."
Bradley has been linked to the vacant Hibernian job in the Scottish Premiership.
He played down the speculation, adding: "There's nothing to report right now. I know I'm getting linked to a job, and that's happened in the past, but I can't control that. All I can do is focus on what we do and right now there's actually nothing to say at all.
"It's flattering and I'm very lucky to have that. I work with a brilliant group of players and staff. I'm very lucky to be linked with jobs and I do appreciate that people like what we do and how we work, but until I'm told otherwise, or until something happens, my focus is on Derry and on trying to retain our league."
