DEE DAY AT BOHS; ALL THE BEST OF LAST NIGHT'S ACTION.

Byline: PAUL O'HEHIR

Bohemian 2 Sligo Rovers 0

BOHS woke from their first half slumber to nail Sligo with a belated show of strength.

Gary Deegan and red-hot striker Jason Byrne bagged the goals to see off the injury ravaged visitors who did not manage a shot on target.

In truth the Gypsies could have won by seven or eight but they lacked a killer instinct and some luck in front of goal.

Still, the win ensures they go into the summer break top of the table - and eagerly awaiting Monday's Champions League draw.

The first half was forget-table fare as Sligo struggled and Bohs blundered.

The visitors were shorn of six regulars and boss Paul Cook - not for the first time - could only name two subs, one a goalkeeper.

And a host of his players were forced to play out of position with wingers Brian Cash and Owen Morrison deputising at full back and centre mid respectively.

It was unsettling for the young Sligo team who were pinned deep in their own half throughout as Bohs surged forward at will.

Yet Pat Fenlon's men struggled in the final third and try as they might they could not put Sligo away before the break.

Wingers Killian Brennan and Anto Murphy never truly settled and between them the quartet squandered good ball in promising positions. Ahead of them, Byrne and strike partner Glen Crowe looked dangerous when in possession but, frustratingly, the ball did not always reach them.

Still, the Gypsies did force visiting keeper Richard Brush into action on occasion but none of the chances were what you might call clear cut.

Byrne dragged an inviting ball inside the box and Brush - a hero in Sligo's midweek win over Cork - scrambled low to save.

Bohs' best chance of the half fell three minutes before the break but Deegan's fizzing drive was again saved by Brush.

With Fenlon's half-time team-talk ringing in their ears, Bohs cut a far meaner figure in the second half.

On the restart Deegan ripped a ball narrowly over and Byrne ballooned a chance after fine work down the left by Conor Powell.

It had the makings of one of those gruelling nights for the hosts but they duly knuckled down and took the lead on 52 minutes.

Brennan's ball from the left reached Murphy at the far post. He returned it with interest and it looked to be going in when Deegan applied the simplest of finishes on the line.

The champions doubled their lead with 18 minutes remaining. Sligo defender Alan Keane handled in the box under strong pressure from Deegan and Byrne cooly slotted home the spot kick.

Bohs defender Jason McGuinness came off the bench for the first time following a five-match ban for directing a racist remark at Sligo striker Romuald Boco who missed this game.

CAPTION(S):

COMMITTED Bohemians' Anto Murphy hurdles Danny Keohane OPENER Gary Deegan celebrates his strike for Bohs last night