Bohemians go four points clear

Bohemians 2 Shamrock Rovers 1: SWEET STUFF, this, for Bohemians, whose second league win of the season over their old rivals sends them four points clear at the top of the Premier Division table with another match still in hand on the leading members of the chasing pack.

First-half goals from Killian Brennan and Mark Rossiter were enough to bag Pat Fenlon's side the points this time out. While Rovers' determination to chase the game to the death almost earned them a point, the hosts did enough over the 90 minutes to merit the win and extend their unbeaten run in the league to 18 games.

The slightly frantic pace of last night's game, particularly early on, was typical of meetings between these clubs - as was the niggling nature of the exchanges. Referee Damien Hancock had to show restraint even to make it through the first quarter-hour without producing a card.

Danny O'Connor was the one who Hancock reckoned had gone too far with his challenge on John Paul Kelly just outside the area. The midfielder was still debating the point with the official until moments before Killian Brennan stepped up to send a curling free around the wall and in.

It was a good strike by the winger but not quite good enough, it seemed, to leave Barry Murphy rooted to the spot. Still, that's what happened. The goalkeeper, presumably as a result of being unsighted, stood by as the ball sailed towards the top-left corner. He eventually moved to fetch it out of the back of his net.

It all seemed harsh on Rovers, who had started well and really should have been ahead just five minutes in when Seán O'Connor had done well to work his way in from the right and set up Tadhg Purcell for a shot that the striker should have kept down.

Shortly after the goal, Rovers had another chance, one almost as good, when Darragh Maguire looked to have timed his run to meet Seán O'Connor's corner perfectly but failed to make proper contact with his forehead.

Passing up such chances at Dalymount always seems an extravagance, but it was after their third crack at goal, eight minutes before the break, that they were eventually punished. Once again Maguire's arrival into the area caused problems, and when the defender this time headed Seán O'Connor's free down and towards the six-yard box Purcell couldn't quit stretch far enough to help the ball home.

Bohemians, though, got the ball away quickly and a neat exchange between Ian Rossiter and Neale Fenn towards the other end of the pitch ended with the left back driving past Murphy from 20 yards.

With their visitors looking battered by the blow, the home side settled into their best spell of the match. For 10 minutes or so either side of the interval they found their rhythm and Rovers, who struggled to cope with the speed of their opponents' passing and movement, did well not to concede again.

Fenn was outstanding, while Rossiter's darting runs and Gary Deegan's tireless work in midfield were important elements in Bohemians's growing superiority.

Though Pat Scully had looked to shake things up at the break, Rovers didn't immediately look any more likely to haul themselves back into the game. But with just over an hour gone they took a major step in the right direction when Simon Madden picked out substitute Eoin Doyle with a cross from the right and Murphy appeared to fumble slightly as the header slipped past him and in.

To be fair, it was the first time the home side had conceded in 714 minutes of league football.

Bohemians, then, kept their heads and took the points while Seán O'Connor lost his slightly in the dying minutes and compounded Scully's misery by getting himself sent off thanks to second booking after a late, needless challenge on Stephen O'Donnell.

BOHEMIANS: B Murphy; A Murphy, O Heary, T Heary, Rossiter (Powell, 60 mins); Kelly (Byrne, 82 mins), Deegan, O'Donnell, Brennan (Kalonas, half-time); Crowe, Fenn.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Murphy; Madden, O'Brien, Maguire, Flynn; S O'Connor, Rice, D O'Connor (Doyle, half-time), McGill; Leech (Amond, half-time), Purcell.

Referee: D Hancock (Dublin).