Shamrock Rovers 1-2 Bohemians

Bohemians' relentless march towards the eircom Premier Division title continued with a hard-fought win over arch rivals Shamrock Rovers at Tolka Park.

Rovers played most of the game with ten men after Darragh Maguire was dismissed for a professional foul in the 17th minute.

But a Tadhg Purcell header gave the Hoops the lead just three minutes after the sending-off.

Bohs didn't panic, however, and a fine finish by Gary Deegan had them level before half-time and substitute Mindougas Kalonas fired home the winner 15 minutes from time.

As the teams came out onto the pitch the Bohemians fans behind in the Ballybough End of the ground unfurled a banner that read '33 points behind...stick to the day job'.

But the Bohs fans were almost silenced five minutes in when an excellent ball from Pat Flynn and a clever run from Sean O'Connor sprung the Gypsies' offside trap.

O'Connor squared the ball to the onrushing Joseph Ndo but his shot was close enough to Brian Murphy in the Bohs goal for the 'keeper to get his hands to it and beat it away.

There may have been 33 points between them in the table, but Rovers settled the better and had the better of the opening ten minutes, despite playing Tadhg Purcell as a lone striker with Joseph Ndo playing just in front of the makeshift central midfield pairing of Danny O'Connor and Pat Flynn.

The complexion of the game changed when Rovers had Maguire sent off. Glen Crowe flicked on with his head and Maguire got caught the wrong side of Neale Fenn and although there was contact between the two the Bohemians striker's tumble looked exaggerated.

There was no doubt in referee Alan Kelly's mind, though, and the Cork official reached straight for his red card to send the defender for an early shower.

If Rovers were rocked by the dismissal they didn't show it and they were soon one up. Sean O'Connor and Ndo worked a short corner for the former to cross and Purcell met the ball with an excellent downward header that gave Murphy no chance.

The hosts still had to reorganise their reduced numbers and manager Pat Scully did so by bringing former Bohs man Stephen Rice on for Eoin Doyle. Flynn reverted to centre-back, Rice went into the centre of midfield, with Ndo moving to the right flank and Rice taking up a more natural role on the left wing.

Rovers continued to work hard and Bohs were struggling to make their numerical advantage count. The Hoops had another half chance in the 36th minute when Danny O'Connor's ambitious volley from outside the area flew wide.

Though they barely deserved it, Bohemians drew level in first-half stoppage time. It was a brilliant goal that started with captain Owen Heary finding Crowe in space. The Gypsies' frontman then found the run of Deegan with a gorgeous reverse pass and the former Longford Town man finished with aplomb from the edge of the area, albeit with the aid of the upright.

Buoyed by the equaliser and no doubt stung by some harsh words from manager Pat Fenlon during the interval, Bohs started the second period in a far more positive manner and made it difficult for Rovers to even get out of their own half.

They were nearly rewarded five minutes after the restart when Rovers 'keeper Robert Duggan flapped at a Killian Brennan free-kick but there was no Bohs player on hand to take advantage.

Crowe had a decent opportunity in the 56th minute but he failed to keep his volley down after a neat one-two with strike partner Neale Fenn. Heary then tested Duggan with a shot that might have caught the Rovers stopper unsighted but he reacted well to get a strong hand to it.

Crowe then fluffed a glorious chance to give the visitors the lead in the 66th minute. O'Brien played a ball back to Duggan who slipped as he controlled with his chest but somehow Crowe slid his effort wide of the gaping goal from just yards to the left of it.

It was unsurprising at this point that the game assumed the mode of a dominant Bohs side trying to break down a stubborn and tiring Rovers outfit.

Bohs needed some inspiration and decided Lithuanian international Mindougas Kalonas was the man to provide it and sent him on to replace Anto Murphy with 12 minutes remaining. No sooner was the 24-year-old on the pitch and he had put his side in front.

He collected the ball on the right side of the box, cut inside Corie Treacy and sent a low shot past Duggan to the delight of the Bohs fans behind the goal.

Rovers were then forced to chase an equaliser and Bohs left-back Mark Rossiter showed bravery to throw himself in the way of an Ndo piledriver with ten minutes remaining.

But that was the home side's only real chance as Bohs comfortably held on to stretch their lead at the top of the table to a surely unassailable 19 points.

Shamrock Rovers: Duggan; O'Brien, Madden, Maguire, Treacy (Martin, 82 mins); S O'Connor, D O'Connor, Ndo, Flynn, Doyle (Rice, 21); Purcell (Amond, 63).

Bohemians: B Murphy; O Heary, Burns, McGuinness, Rossiter; A Murphy (Kalonas, 78 mins), O'Donnell (Cronin, 82), Deegan (T Heary, 90), Brennan; Crowe, Fenn.

Referee: Alan Kelly (Cork).