Bohemians 2 Drogheda Utd 0THE CHANT of "you're not champions anymore" from the Bohemians faithful to their Drogheda counterparts over on the Connaught Street side of Dalymount Park after Glen Crowe put them 2-0 up shortly before half-time was the most telling comment of the night - and of the league season to date.
In his programme notes, Bohemians manager Pat Fenlon rubbished what he described as idle talk of the title being theirs to lose.
But 10 points clear at the top this morning, Bohemians, unbeaten in 21 games, would have to lose four of their remaining 10 games just to be caught.
Having lost just once in the league, Fenlon, with seven titles as a player and manager adorning his CV, knows a 10th title, and their first since 2003, is now very much in sight for his current employers.
For champions Drogheda, a second lethargic display at the same venue in less than a fortnight sees their league season now potentially petering out to nothing. Missing out on Europe is distinctly likely.
Despite being hit by suspensions and injuries, Bohemians made just one change, with defender Liam Burns returning, to their starting XI from the side that knocked Drogheda out of the FAI Cup 12 days ago.
Drogheda, on the other hand, made three changes, only one of which was enforced, as manager Paul Doolin hoped for a more industrious display.
It started brightly enough for Drogheda with Shane Robinson, back from injury and playing in an unusual slot of outside left, was gifted the first opening on five minutes.
Bohemians captain Owen Heary mis-directed a header to put the winger in on goal. But the shot, admittedly from a tight angle, lacked power and was easily taken by Brian Murphy.
If that was a half-chance, Bohemians wasted the first clear-cut opening 10 minutes later. Paul Keegan was booked for a rash challenge on Killian Brennan, but further punishment should have ensued.
Gary Deegan's free-kick was headed back across goal by Jason Byrne for Crowe who volleyed wastefully off target from 12 yards.
Though forewarned, Drogheda appeared scarcely forearmed as Bohemians took the lead from an almost identical set-piece on 25 minutes. This time a Brennan delivery was again knocked back across goal by Byrne, and negligent marking meant Mindaugas Kalonas was left to side-foot home from just yards out.
That lifted a surprisingly drab atmosphere, and a long-range shot from Drogheda's Guy Bates brought a tip-over save from Murphy within two minutes.
But, as in their recent cup win, Bohemians maintained control and Byrne lost marker Shaun Maher to flash a header wide from another Brennan free-kick on 34 minutes as the school end continued to see most of the action.
Four minutes later it witnessed the second goal. The increasingly impressive Kalonas did the spade work on the right, cleverly beating Joe Kendrick, before having a seeming eternity to cross for Crowe to score with a free header, his sixth goal of the league season.
Drogheda brought on Declan O'Brien for Bates at half-time as they looked for a spark to ignite their chasing of the game.
But the club captain, out injured for much of the season, showed his rustiness by missing a gilt-edged chance to get them back into the game on 62 minutes.
Kendrick fed Robinson on the right and his pull-back was on a plate for O'Brien, who merely planted his free header wide.
BOHEMIANS:Murphy; Rossiter, O Heary, Burns, Powell; Byrne (Kelly, 88 min), Deegan, T Heary, Brennan; Kalonas (Fenn, 71 min); Crowe.
DROGHEDA UNITED:Ewings; Byrne, Shelley, Maher, Kendrick; Kuduzovic, Hughes, Keegan, Cahill, Robinson; Bates (O'Brien, h-t).
Referee:Damien Hancock (Dublin).
