Bohs see title within their grasp

Bohemians 3 Sligo Rovers 1

Champions Bohemians blew understrength Sligo away to all but retain their title in emphatic fashion at Dlaymount Park tonight.

With Shamrock Rovers managing to only draw with Galway United at Tallaght Stadium, Bohs are now three points clear with a goal difference better by 16 meaning only an incredibly unlikely freakish set of results in next week’s final games could deprive them of the championship.

With Sligo fielding a weakened team, Bohs cruised into a 2-0 lead inside 10 minutes.

In-from teenager Paddy Madden, who scored both goals in their win at Galway last week, rose to head home Killian Brennan’s cross on nine minutes.

It was 2-0 almost immediately, this time Jason Byrne putting Joseph Ndo in to easily lob debutant keeper Michael Schlingermann.

Ndo returned the compliment to allow Byrne drill home the third goal on 29 minutes to end the game as a contest.

Dean Marshall got a well-taken goal back for Sligo within the first minute of the second half, but Bohs never looked in danger of securing the win and an 11th title.

Defeat means that Sligo could yet be involved in the relegation play-offs.