Bohemians hang on to lead in fine game

AS warning bells go this was the loudest so far. As expected, it was the most momentous collision yet from two of the perceived big three. Shelbourne looked the better for the first half hour but at the business end of things Bohemians sat protectively on their 55th minute lead. Few do it better.

Tolka Park fairly crackled with a vibrant edge of the seat match, the 3,000 crowd generating a fair old atmosphere from first to last. Joey Byrne, perhaps destined to inherit Pat Kelly's mantle, let it flow at times erring on the side of generosity.

The tone was set from the start. To the end, the tempo was almost breathtaking. Shelbourne, particularly, were moving the ball to feet at a brisk pace. Tony Sheridan was often the orchestrator, dropping into positions where Bohemians couldn't pick him up, and running at them or releasing the overlapping Pascal Vaudequin.

The Frenchman peppered the Bohemians' area with quality crosses at pace; Declan Geoghegan flashed a header wide on the run while John O'Rourke's far post header missed the target with Dave Henderson seemingly beaten.

The best chance of all came after 17 minutes when Sheridan ran at Bohemians once more and threaded a through ball for Mark Rutherford which he brought onto his left foot but Henderson spread himself well to save comfortably.

The Shelbourne back three were equally comfortable, Greg Costello dominating, while Derek McGrath and Paul Doolin were largely bypassed. With less passing and teamwork, Bohemians relied largely on moments of individualism - McGrath and the ever dangerous Brian Mooney created shooting chances for themselves.

Gradually though, the wily old prodigal son Doolin - booked for an attempt at palming the ball into goal - began to get a handle on the game and influence it. Bohemians forced seven corners, but Shelbourne were vigilant. By halftime, there was nothing in it.

Four minutes after the break Sheridan's swerving, dipping snap shot extended Henderson to the full but six minutes later the game turned Bohemians' way. Peter Hanrahan blocked Mick Neville's overhead clearance near the touchline, clearly with his arms, but not for the first time the linesman was behind play, and Hanrahan ran on to cross for Swan to score at the second attempt.

Bohemians quickly funnelled back, putting up a line of eight or nine yellow shirts. A hint of desperation crept into Shelbourne's play. Vaudequin's crosses lacked fizz, Sheridan tried hard, almost too hard sometimes, but on 70 minutes he re enacted a reprise of the first half with Vaudequin, a backpedalling James Coll only heading the cross as far as Stephens Geoghegan, whose first time volley hit the upright.

Damien Richardson juggled the forces, but Bohemians held firm; O'Rourke headed just over, O'Driscoll denied Rutherford with an excellent covering tackle and Gough saved well from Swan at the other end before Dave Smith snatched a dropping half volley over from close range as a slightly unlucky Shelbourne strove to the end.

"One-nil to the Boh-e-es" chanted the away contingent. Just like the Arsenal, on this evidence it could become irritatingly catchy.

. A decision taken in the interest of football has paved the way for Cliftonville to fulfil their opening Gold Cup fixture with Glentoran at Solitude. The match and the future of Cliftonville in the competition - and indeed in Irish League football - had been thrown into doubt earlier in the week.