BOHEMIANS emphasised their title aspirations last night when they easily beat Dundalk at Dalymount Park to go five points clear at the top of the table.
It was a particularly unhappy night for Dundalk who also had veteran Tom McNulty sent off for a second bookable offence and manager John Hewitt sent from the dugout for arguing with referee Richard O'Hanlon.
Bohemians totally dominated the first half but had to wait until the 44th minute of a protracted half, which lasted 51 minutes because of an injury to Dundalk's Stephen Douglas, to take the lead.
Tommy Byrne's corner reached Paul Doolin whose mis hit shot struck Derek Swan. The ball ran kindly for Peter Hanrahan, however, whose toe poke laid the ball on to Eoin Mullen who rifled home his third league goal of the season from 10 yards out.
Dundalk enjoyed a good spell early in the second half, though it was rudely interrupted within 11 minutes when Bohemians broke away to score a fine second goal. Mooney's excellent pass played Mullen through the middle and though goalkeeper Les Fridge parried his shot, substitute Derek McGrath shot home the rebound.
Dundalk's problems then mounted when McNulty, booked at the end of the first half for time wasting, received his second yellow card for a foul on Swan and was duly dismissed. McNulty protested vehemently that Swan had taken a dive.
The irrepressible Mooney then rubbed salt in Dundalk's wounds with a stunning solo goal to make it 3-0 in the 64th minute. Collecting the ball in his own half, he raced past David Crawley who attempted to pull him down and ran on to keep his balance and nerve to shoot past Fridge, who brought off some fine saves.
