Bohemians - 1 Cork City - 0 Those who had come hoping for fireworks got their money's worth - what turned out to be a largely dull and disappointing game was at least played out against the backdrop of a spectacular display in the night sky over Dalymount Park.

And late on it even livened up as the goal the game had so desperately needed from early in the first half finally arrived courtesy of Glen Crowe, but the fact that the strike once again moved Bohemians to within two points of the top of the table was pretty much all that mattered as the teams left the pitch and the supporters consoled themselves with talk of how important it is for would-be champions to win when not playing well.

Crowe's finish might not have been as pretty as what was happening overhead but there were no complaints, the striker's 16th of the season brought delight to the frustrated home support and relief to an increasingly anxious looking Bohemians bench.

Scored with eight minutes remaining, it was the product of one of Crowe's few serious attempts on goal, for the bulk of what Bohemians generated in attack fell to his strike partner Paul Keegan and, sadly for the Dubliners, nothing was quite going to plan for the former Bray Wanderers man.

In the end it didn't matter as City's attempt to come, contain their opponents and, presumably, escape with a draw came to nothing. During the closing minutes they rallied dramatically in an effort to grab the equaliser they suddenly needed but a Greg O'Halloran shot that flew narrowly wide of the angle late on was as close as they came to salvaging something from the ruins.

Bohemians's relief was understandable for the club needed the three points in order to maintain the pressure on Shelbourne at the top of the table. City, though, came needing them too if they were to revive fading hopes of overhauling their hosts and grabbing a place in the next season's UEFA Cup.

Dolan's side had lost two of their previous three meetings with the Dubliners this season but the fact that they had at least scored in each of the games suggested they might test last year's champions. Even against a team playing below its best, however, the challenge never really materialised.

Up front Kevin Doyle tended to look stranded despite the efforts of George O'Callaghan behind him to drop deep and rustle up possession. There was little to be had, though, with Thomas Heary and Kevin Hunt, helped by some careless passing on the part of their opponents, winning a steady supply of ball which the pair generally used well.

In attack, however, the home side had persistent trouble clicking, with Keegan passing up a couple of decent chances and Dan Murray doing well to cut out a Dave Morrison cross which, had it reached Crowe, would surely have been turned home.

Late in the opening half Keegan did manage to hit the target with some force after a clever back heel by Bobby Ryan bamboozled a couple of City defenders but Michael Devine dealt with the threat, turning the close-range shot safely over his bar.

The goalkeeper had been less certain in dealing with Ryan's angled free-kick midway through the half but on that occasion City had been lucky, Colin Hawkins' follow-up flying low and wide of the right-hand post.

The bulk of the second half followed a similar pattern with Bohemians on top without ever looking convincing and rarely looking like scoring. Crowe did finally force a good stop from Devine with a glancing header 14 minutes from time but by then the home side's pursuit of the goal they needed was beginning to take on an air of desperation.

Mark Rutherford's arrival from the bench eventually livened up the Dublin side's attack and the winger played a key part in the winner, keeping the ball in play when it looked certain to run out for a throw before feeding Keegan, whose cross from the left was bundled awkwardly in by Crowe.

Scrappy stuff but it counted just the same and once again the pressure is back on Shelbourne to maintain their lead with a win in Longford this evening.

BOHEMIANS: Kelly; McNally, Hawkins, Oman, Lynch (Rutherford, 73 mins); Ryan, Hunt (Caffrey, , Heary, Morrison; Crowe, Keegan.

CORK CITY: Devine; Horgan (Nwanko, 91 mins), Coughlan, D Murray, Woods (Behan, 91 mins); CT O'Brien, K Murray, O'Halloran, Kearney; O'Halloran; Doyle.

Referee: J McDermott (Dublin).