Colm Whelan hit a hat-trick as Bohemians ran riot against an under-par Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds - and in doing so may have put the Gypsies' name forward as potential title challengers.
Ahead at the break courtesy of an early goal from Dayle Rooney, ruthless Bohs struck three times in a 13-minute second-half spell, in which Whelan overwhelmed Sligo who slumped to the foot of the Premier Division table.
Bohs' dominance was such that goalkeeper Kacper Chorazka went the full 90 minutes untested.
In search of their first points of the year following a disappointing defeat, but encouraging display, away to title challengers Derry City on the opening night, Rovers made just the single change to the side that were beaten by the Candystripes eight nights previous.
Guinean striker Mai Traore appeared for the first time following difficulties with his work permit which saw him miss that trip to Derry.
Gypsies boss Alan Reynolds sought to remedy his side's issues in front of goal against St Pat's at the Aviva last weekend with three switches.
Strikers Whelan and Douglas James-Taylor came into the starting side in place of former Sligo loanee James McManus and winger Harry Vaughan, both of whom started last week's stalemate; Rooney the third change as Bohs set out their stall to attack in bitter conditions in the north-west.
The visitors were irresistible in the opening moments, creating four clear goal-scoring opportunities in the first ten minutes.
Some more than questionable Sligo defending contributed to these chances, the first of which Bohs took.
Rovers stopper Sam Sargent kept out James-Taylor's first shot but could do little about Gareth McElroy's attempted clearance which struck the back of the Sligo net-minder. All at sea, the Rovers rearguard could only look on as the ball fell to the alert Rooney who fired home on the turn with 90 seconds played.
Rovers continued to look extremely shaky at the back as Bohs, with a gust at their backs, pressed relentlessly.
Sam Todd's free header dropped narrowly past Sargeant's far post, while offered space, former Derry striker Whelan fired straight at Sargeant 60 seconds later.
Centre-half Patrick Hickey nodded Rooney's corner past the front post whilst unmarked three yards from goal, before Whelan blasted over having been teed up by Dawson Devoy who was allowed stroll through an apprehensive looking Sligo core.
The hosts introduced the on-loan Shane Blaney for his first minutes since his return to the club in place of McElroy at the interval.
The move failed to shore things up as Bohs went further ahead nine minutes into the second period with Rovers caught out at the back once again.
The Showgrounds raged as they felt Whelan was offside when he ran on to Ross Tierney's perfectly weighted through ball. TV replays suggest the officials got the decision correct however as Whelan kept his head before rounding Sargeant and slotting home to the far corner of the net.
This game was over as a contest in a three-minute period in which Bohs struck for their third and fourth of the night.
A superbly put together move saw the Phibsboro outfit again easily carve their opponents open four minutes past the hour, Torino loanee Senan Mullen finding the now in-form Whelan who neatly tucked his effort beyond Sargeant.
Number four arrived on 67 after debutant Traore clumsily tangled with Tierney just inside the Sligo area. Whelan completed his personal haul for the evening as he sent a disheartened Sargeant the wrong way for his hat-trick from 12 yards.
Sligo Rovers: Sam Sargeant; Jeanot Esua, Gareth McElroy (Shane Blaney, ht), Ollie Denham, Will Fitzgerald; Alex Nolan (Sean Stewart, 75), Seb Quirk, Daire Patton (Archie Meekison, 75), Ryan O'Kane; Jad Hakiki (Cian Kavanagh, 63); Mai Traore.
Bohemians: Kacper Chorazka; Senan Mullen, Patrick Hickey, Sam Todd; Darragh Power (Cian Byrne, 81), Jordan Flores (Niall Morahan, 76), Dawson Devoy, Dayle Rooney; Ross Tierney (Harry Vaughan, 81); Douglas James-Taylor (Hugh Martin, 69), Colm Whelan (Adam McDonnell, 76).
Referee: Alan Patchell.
