Bohemians 2-0 Shamrock Rovers
Friday, 20 March 2009 23:07Bohemians won the first big Dublin derby of the campaign thanks to a Jason Byrne double at Dalymount Park, writes Mark Cummins.
The one-time Irish international netted a penalty in the first half and slotted home a second goal on 63 minutes.
Rovers wore pink jerseys to highlight cancer awareness, and it was appropriate that the game fell on Daffodil Day as the two Dublin sides served up another blooming amazing exhibition of football.
The game started at a lively and frenetic pace with Rovers' Gary Twigg and Bohs' Gary Deegan both having chances inside the first two and half minutes. Joseph Ndo then made space for himself for Bohs on seven minutes with a good run and shot on the left but his effort was too high and wide.
Rovers' goalkeeper Barry Murphy made a fine save from Byrne on eight minutes after Byrne made contact with an Anto Murphy half cross/half shot while Stephen Bradley tested the strength of the Bohs' woodwork a minute later at the other end.
Bohs took the lead on 17 minutes when Byrne slotted home a penalty after Stephen Rice had upended Deegan in the area.
The game quietened down somewhat after that, but sprung to life again after the half hour. Firstly, Murphy in the Rovers goal made a sensational save on 34 minutes when he tipped a Glen Crowe effort over the bar following a good through ball from Ndo.
Three minutes later Bradley struck a blistering free kick at the School end goal but agonisingly saw his strike cannon off the post. Deegan nearly made it two for Bohs on 40 minutes but Barry Murphy got down well to turn his low drive around the post.
Bradley had another free kick from distance on 56 minutes but he put too much into his effort and the ball sailed wide. Despite further Rovers pressure, Bohs went two up on 63 when Ndo played a one-two with Deegan and found Byrne, who beat Murphy from close range.
Deegan put Anto Murphy through on goal on 77, but Barry Murphy made another fine save to deny the former St Pat's man.
Bohemians: Brian Murphy, McGuinness, Oman, Shelley, Rossiter, Keegan, Deegan (Cronin 90), A Murphy, Ndo, Byrne (Carey 85), Crowe. Booked: Oman; Byrne; Deegan. Goals: Byrne (2).
Shamrock Rovers: Barry Murphy, Price, Webb, Madden, Bermingham, Bradley, Rice (Purcell 82), Robinson, Cahill (O'Connor 74), Twigg, Baker (Cameron 68). Booked: Twigg; Webb; Bradley; Madden.
Referee: R Winter.
