The visitors, however, started with confidence as one would expect from a team who had scored 10 goals in their last two matches and it was Joseph Ndo who created an early opening. With less than three minutes gone, the Cameroonian veteran produced a trademark flick into Kieran Djilali, who could only scuff his shot wide. Bohs then responded with their first effort on goal as Mulcahy won a battle in midfield and laid it off for Paddy Kavanagh but his attempt flew wide.

20-year-old McCabe unfortunately went off feeling ill after 15 minutes but his replacement Kevin Devaney was proving a decent attacking outlet for the home side and he was involved in two half-chances around the half-hour mark. First he crossed in for Ryan McEvoy, who may have been better shooting himself instead of passing it to Craig Walsh in an offside position.

Next, the Sligo native ran on to Kavangh’s through ball but could only lift it over Gary Rogers goal.

The game had a sleepy Bank Holiday feel to it and it seemed to be drifting quietly towards half-time before Bohs and Devaney again produced the best chance of the opening period. Latching on to a throw-in, he fought his way between Sligo defenders Jeff Henderson and Ross Gaynor and fired a shot which was well parried by Rogers.

The home side began the second half with similar purpose as good play by Devaney set up Mulcahy to have a crack, but the effort was far too high. The Bohs skipper almost opened his account a few minutes later as his header from a Ryan McEvoy free kick went a lot closer but also over the bar.

Bohs were motoring now and Walsh was released down the left hand side but his hooked cross into the box was just cleared in time by Jeff Henderson, while Devaney waited to pounce. With 15 minutes gone of the second half, Bohs were pressing high up the pitch nearly broke the deadlock as McEvoy almost caught Rogers napping while he dallied on the ball in front of goal.

Just a minute later, the men in red and black missed a glorious opportunity as great play from Moore on the left saw him find Walsh inside the area but he placed his shot just wide of Rogers right-hand post.

Sligo came into it more as the game clock went past 70 minutes as David Cawley shot wide after nice play from Djilali. But Bohs responded in kind and again pressing created a chance as Stephen Traynor, on as a sub for Walsh, robbed Ndo and was through on goal but was taken down by Henderson. The ref only produced a yellow which given the circumstances was rather lenient.

Derek Pender then came to the rescue for Bohs as John Russell produced a surging run and a dangerous ball into the danger zone but the Gypsies’ vice-captain just slid in time and prevented a goal.

With 12 minutes remaining, Sligo took the lead as Djilali’s corner to the back post went through Lee Murphy’s hands and landed into the path of McMillan who nodded home.

The goal seemed to really demoralise Bohemians and in their fruitless attempt for an equaliser, they looked vulnerable on the counter attack. First Djilali missed a sitter after great work from Danny North but then as the game entered injury time, the former Grimsby striker finished the job himself. Roberto Lopes missed his clearence and the ball fell to another substitute Sean Maguire, finding North who finished powerfully.

There was still time for Bohs to force a penalty as Russell handled in the area but just to complete a hapless day, Jason Byrne’s effort lacked conviction and was easily held by Rogers diving to his left.

A third defeat in a row then and little comfort will be drawn from the fact that on Friday they travel to Leeside for a clash against top-of-the-table Cork City.

BOHEMIANS: Lee Murphy, Derek Pender, Roberto Lopes, Aidan Price, Philip McCabe (Kevin Devaney 15), Karl Moore, Dave Mulcahy, Ryan McEvoy, Craig Walsh (Stephen Traynor 63), Paddy Kavanagh (Jason Byrne 83), Steven Beattie. Subs not used: Dean Delany, Dano Byrne, Jake Hyland, Keith Buckley.
SLIGO ROVERS: Gary Rogers, Alan Keane, Danny Ledwith, Evan McMillan, Jeff Henderson, David Cawley, Ross Gaynor (John Russell 61), Paul O’Conor (Danny North 61), Joseph Ndo (Sean Maguire 77), Aaron Greene, Kieran Djilali. Subs not used: Richard Brush, Kalen Spillane, Eric Odhiambo, Jack Dykes.
REFEREE: Jim McKell
Mr GREEN MAN OF THE MATCH: Kevin Devaney.

“We work hard all week on trying to eradicate individual mistakes from our game, so it’s frustrating when it happens again. They’re not small mistakes. They’re big ones if they’re costing us goals and results.”

The fixture list hasn’t helped Bohs’ bid to get more points on the board but Heary has challenged his players to step up and prove their worth.

He said: “You could say we’re unfortunate in that we’re playing three of the best sides in the league – Pat’s, Sligo and Cork – in a row but that’s what the players should want. They should be wanting to go out and play against the best in the league – to push themselves, to better themselves and test themselves against the very best.

“We all knew Sligo were going to come good eventually and they’ve shown that in their last few games where they’ve scored goals for fun against St Pat’s and UCD and got a good draw away to Cork in between. We know we’re up against one of the best teams around.”

Heary admitted the return of club captain Dave Mulcahy, who played the full 90 minutes on Friday in what was his first appearance since the opening day of the league season after knee and calf injuries, was a “massive plus” but he is set to tinker with his line-up again as there are “a lot of tired bodies”.

“We did very well to get 90 minutes out of Jason too,” he added. “We would have liked to have taken him off after around 70 minutes but with Dinny Corcoran out, Jay was the best person to get us back into the game so we had to leave him on. But there were a lot of tired bodies on Friday and you don’t want to be flogging players, so we will change things around in certain areas.”

Heary’s options are limited by the continued absence of Corcoran, who will have a scan on his knee injury on Tuesday, as well as Anto Murphy (hamstring) and Jack Memery (knee). Goalkeeper Dean Delany returns to the squad after serving his additional one-match ban for the red card he received against Bray Wanderers earlier this month.

Despite having the lion share of possession the champions did not look dangerous early on but did have the first shot in anger on eight minutes. Forrester was a threat roaming inside from the left-hand side and he found himself at the edge of the box after eight minutes but his looping effort went comfortably over the bar.

Craig Walsh looked to have been given the task of shackling Irish international Keith Fahey and he went about the task enthusiastically, ensuring the vaunted midfielder did not get a foothold in the game during the first half.

Bohs didn’t really threaten their opponents’ goal during this period but after 23 minutes they found themselves in the lead after a stunning strike from Byrne. A driving run from Walsh in midfield saw him pick out the lone striker, who had peeled off the last defender and from the edge of the area he produced an audacious chip over a stunned Brendan Clarke and into the net. A goal of instinctive brilliance.

The away side’s lead was to be short-lived, however, as Pat’s levelled just four minutes later. Ger O’Brien cross into the area was only half-cleared by Aidan Price, the ball rolled into the path of Fagan, who finished coolly into the corner.

The Richmond Park outfit were buoyed by their equaliser and dominated the rest of the first half, creating numerous chances. Conan Byrne was creating havoc down Bohs’ left side and twice his searching balls into the danger zone almost found Fagan who was lurking.

On 37 minutes, Fahey’s free-kick was floated into the area and picked out Fagan inside the six-yard box. His downward header looked destined for the goal but was superbly clawed away by Bohs net-minder Lee Murphy. Bohs were praying for the half-time whistle now and three minutes from the break they escaped conceding again as James Chambers headed over.

The visitors began the second half with more of a foothold in the game and had the chance to take an unlikely lead in the 49th minute as a Darragh Reynor free-kick found Price in space but he could only direct his header wide. Murphy then again showed his shot-stopping ability with a super save on to the post from a long range thunderbolt from Fagan.

Karl Moore had been summoned from the bench at half-time and at times looked dangerous on the left wing, after 57 minutes his cross was just deflected wide of  Byrne, who was waiting to apply the finish.

Jason’s namesake Conan continued to be a menace to the Gypsies’ defence and his ball in on 64 minutes found Forrester three yards from goal but he somehow manged to blaze it over much to the glee of Bohemians supporters behind the goal.

Forrester’s embarrassment would not last, however, as barely a minute later, his side had the lead for the first time. Fahey, whose influence in the game continued to grow, found Conan Byrne with a perfect through ball, the winger then drilled a cross into the middle of the area which after a scramble found its way to Fagan who had his second of the night.

Bohs tried to respond and their chance came with 17 minutes remaining. Good work from Moore found Reynor, his pin-point swinging cross found Jason Byrne only a few yards from goal but he skewed his free header wide.

One felt Bohs would be punished for such profligacy and the killer goal duly arrived four minutes later. Fagan this time the provider as his pass fell to Forrester who skillfully beat two defenders in the box before sending Murphy the wrong way and finding the net.

The game fizzled out at this point with Pats clearly happy with their two goal advantage while the men playing in green couldn’t create a way back into the match.

So a disappointing night for Bohemians, they will try to bounce back and improve their home form against Sligo at 3pm on Easter Monday.

St Patrick’s Athletic: Brendan Clarke, Ger O’Brien (c) (Conor McCormack 81), Sean Hoare, Ian Bermingham , Kenny Browne, James Chambers (Sam Verdon 89), Keith Fahey, Lee Lynch, Conan Byrne, Christopher Forrester, Christy Fagan.
Subs not used: Pat Jennings, Derek Foran, Lorcan Fitzgearld, Peter Durrard, Daryl Kavanagh.

Bohemians: Lee Murphy, Derek Pender, Roberto Lopes, Aidan Price, Darragh Reynor, Keith Buckley (Paddy Kavanagh 77), Ryan McEvoy, Dave Mulcahy (c), Craig Walsh (Steven Beattie 62), Andy Mulligan (Karl Moore 45), Jason Byrne.
Subs not used: Gavin Moore, Dan Byrne, Jake Hyland Stephen Traynor.

“These will be difficult games. The squad will be tested, as some of the players aren’t used to playing game after game after game. But we have to get them into the right mindset.”

Of the last six league games Bohemians have played at Inchicore, three have been draws and Bohs have won one.

“Pat’s have a quality squad and they know better than anyone that they have not played to their potential,” said Heary. “For us, it’s a bit like we were against Dundalk. We need to be positive when we have the ball and tight when we don’t have it.”

Heary expects a more entertaining game than the grim encounter with Limerick last week. “The two teams like to play football. It will, hopefully, be not too open a game. But the two teams like to get on the ball and pass it.”

Bohemian skipper (and ex-Pats player) Dave Mulcahy is expected to make his first appearance of the league season following calf and knee injuries but defender Anto Murphy (hamstring) remains out “for another three or four weeks”.

Goalkeeper Dean Delany is suspended, completing his two-match ban on Friday, and Dinny Corcoran is sidelined with a knock to the knee, but may make it back for Monday’s home game against Sligo.

Veteran striker Jason Byrne looks likely to start, as he did against Dundalk and Athlone Town. “He’s a smashing player, and he knows where the goal is. But we have other options as well, so I’m not too worried about it,” said Heary.

Last week’s defeat at home to Limerick was frustrating for the squad to review, the manager said. “It’s the first time we haven’t created an awful lot of chances. In the last third of the pitch we just weren’t creating enough.

“Maybe there was a bit of nervousness too, knowing we haven’t won at Dalymount. But then you look at Stephen Traynor’s shot. It’s going in and it hits a bobble and goes wide.

“Limerick didn’t create chances either. It was the second phase of play from their corner, some of our lads lose their man, and they score. ”

Heary has been getting the players focused on the next game, even though they were “gutted”.

“That’s a game we should have seen out for a nil-all draw, at worst. I know we’re a better team than that.”