Shamrock Rovers were crowned SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division champions for the sixth time seven seasons - and the 23rd time in all - as they breezed past Sligo Rovers and Bohemians lost to Shelbourne at Dalymount Park.

It means the Hoops have wrapped it up with a game to spare, their dominance of the division further underlined.

After two quickfire goals late in the first half by Adam Brennan, the home fans could sit back and wait for developments at Dalymount, where Bohs had to match their bitter rivals result to push the title race to the last game.

The Gypsies stumbled, and Rovers cruised.

Further goals from Aaron Greene and Dylan Watts sealed it in front of a crowd of 8,023 at Tallaght Stadium. When the news came trouigh from the other side of the city that Shels had gone ahead, the celebrations began.

The Hoops had decided before the match that they didn’t want to tempt fate by having the trophy at the ground, so the league title will be presented in their final game of the season at Dundalk next Friday.

Matt Healy, Naj Razi, Michael Noonan and Danny Grant all missed the game due to suspension while Jack Byrne, who picked up a knock against Galway United last week, wasn’t pressed into service with former Sligo captain Will Fitgerald recalled to face his old side.

Gary O'Neill was named on the bench a year since he was diagnosed with a form of testicular cancer and he was introduced as a late substitute for the first time since he got the all-clear last April to a huge ovation.

The hosts almost hit the front in the fourth minute. After a corner, Graham Burke’s weak shot fell to his captain Pico Lopes who was brilliantly denied at point-blank range by Sligo keeper Liam Hughes.

Sligo soaked up a lot of early pressure and actually missed a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 17th minute when Jack Shorrock’s left-wing cross fell to Kaiyne Woolery. Hoops stopper Ed McGinty could only paw the cross into the attacker's path but he messed up his attempted finish a metre from the unguarded net, not once but three times.

Sligo had looked comfortable as Bradley’s side hunted for the opener, but they were undone the 39th minute as Tunmise Sobowale’s cross from the right was allowed to go across the defenders and Brennan stole in at the back post to ram in the opener.

Brennan got his and his side's second just two minutes later. Burke flashed a cross from the left into a crowded penalty area and Brennan, steaming into the danger zone, side-footed ball home.

Sligo came mighty close to a reply a minute before the half as a James McManus header clipped the post, but they faded on the turnaround.

Two minutes after the restart, the Hoops almost got a third as Burke got to the byline down the right, and his ball across the Sligo goal just missed the far post.

Sligo’s second half consisted of keeping the Hoops at bay and they eventually fell further behind in the 71st minute as Brennan, searching for his hat-trick, saw his goalbound shot deflected to the head of sub-Aaron Greene who nodded home from a yard out.

Watts' volley from the edge of the area made it 4-0.

It was party time, the home fans pouring onto the pitch at the full-time whistle to savour another league success.

Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty; Oluwatunmise Sobowale (Luke O’Regan 72), Daniel Cleary, Roberto Lopes (capt), Lee Grace, Will Fitzgerald (Jake Mullraney 46); Adam Brennan, Dylan Watts Gary O’Neill 78), John O’Sullivan; Graham Burke (Jonathan Afolabi 78) , John McGovern (Aaron Greene 61)

Sligo Rovers: Liam Hughes; Seb Quirk, Ollie Denham, Gareth McElroy (capt), Sean Stewart; Luke Young, Daire Patton (Aidan Gabbidon 63), James McManus (Luke Pearce 55) Archie Meekison (Cian Kavanagh 55), Jack Shorrock; Kaiyne Woolery

Referee: Arnold Hunter

Attendance: 8,023