Despite missing several players through injuries, Bohemians completely outclassed Kilkenny in their premier league tie at Dalymount Park last night.
When goalkeeper Dave Henderson was forced to retire with a leg injury after just 20 minutes it looked for a moment as if it was going to be another one of those frustrating nights for the home side.
Just for a moment. Bohemians next attack saw Graham Lawlor head Brian Mooney's well measured cross into the left hand corner and they were on their way.
In the 33rd minute midfielder Joe Hanrahan's finely weighted pass put Warren Parkes clear and he coolly lifted it over the advancing Ashley Stephenson to make it 2-0. Bohemians were now in total control as Kilkenny struggled to mount any attacks of substance.
Four minutes before half-time the match was over as a contest. Full back Donal Broughan's fierce drive from outside the box brought a fine save from Stephenson, but Parkes was in quickest to finish the rebound to the net.
Respectability was about the height of Kilkenny's ambition in the second half, but when Parkes shrugged off the challenge of Tony Hall to complete his hat-trick with a low drive four minutes into the second half, even that looked beyond the visitors.
Kilkenny rallied briefly with a goal from substitute John Power in the 52nd minute but Bohemians literally blew them off the field with a three-goal burst in four minutes.
Joe Hanrahan got in at the back post to finish a cross from Parkes in the 65th minute and a minute later Lawlor beat the offside and Stephenson's challenge to hit a low shot into the unguarded net.
The irrepressible Parkes got his fourth and Bohemians' seventh when he rounded off a fine run by skipping past the hapless Stephenson before driving the ball home. Paul Doolin popped up in the box two minutes from time to complete the scoring and a memorable night for the home fans.
Bohemians: D Henderson, D Broughan, T Byrne, S Maher, J Coll, P Doolin, B Mooney, J Hanrahan, G Lawlor, P Hanrahan, W Parkes. Subs: J Ryan for D Henderson (20 mins), E Mullen for J Coll (72 mins), G Wade for J Hanrahan (75 mins).
Kilkenny City: A Stephenson, B Arrigan, B Barry, C Maher, T Hall, K Kelly, D Breen, R Walsh, M Reid, R Hale, B Rea. Subs: D Walsh and J Power for B Barry, and D Breen (halftime), A Cooney for R Walsh (56 mins). Referee: R O'Hanlon (Waterford).
. Phil gray has made it a double comeback with a recall to Northern Ireland's World Cup squad.
The 28-year-old former Sunderland striker returned to English football with Luton from Dutch side Fortuna Sitard for £500,000 last week.
And now Northern Ireland boss Bryan Hamilton has reinstated him for their country's closing Group Nine qualifier against Portugal in Lisbon on October 11th
Gray replaces Blackpool's James Quinn.
