Bohemians’ quest for a third consecutive Premier Division title got off to a flyer as Killian Brennan’s penalty on 76 minutes saw off top-flight newcomers Sporting Fingal.
The decision in the a tight game of referee Derek Tomney’s to penalise Keith Quinn following a tangle with Anto Murphy just inside the area was hotly contested by the visitors' players who had up to then more than held their own against their North Dublin rivals.
Fingal boss Liam Buckley gave debuts to five of his close-season signings, but the most high-profile of his captures, former Bohs great Glen Crowe, had to make do with a place on the bench.
One of those new recruits, goalkeeper Brendan Clarke, was relieved not to be troubled as early as the seventh minute when Killian Brennan barged his way down the left wing and sent in a superb cross along the six-yard box.
Gypsies’ striker Mark Quigley was left alone in the centre but somehow failed to make a connection and the danger was averted.
Fingal’s leading scorer from last season’s promotion campaign, Conan Byrne, had their first chance of the night on 12 minutes when his free-kick from 25-yards curled over the wall towards the top corner and required a superb tip-over by goalkeeper Barry Murphy.
But it was the home side that came closest to having the interval lead when on 35 minutes Paddy Madden rose to meet Brennan’s in-swinging corner only for Lorcan Fitzgerald to boot the goalbound header off the line.
Fingal were fast out of the traps on the resumption, with Gary O’Neill inches wide with a low drilled shot from just outside the box after Shane McFaul and Byrne had combined well to create the opening.
But three minutes after Conan Byrne had a claim for handball by Conor Powell in the box denied, the champions were granted what appeared a soft-looking penalty 14 minutes from time.
Brennan was coolness personified as he converted the spot-kick to the right, sending Clarke the wrong way.
Fingal pushed for an equaliser and captain Shaun Maher gave Bohs a scare when he glanced a header a yard wide on 83 minutes.
Shane McFaul saw his long shot dealt with by Murphy three minutes later but Crowe, on as a late substitute, nearly salvaged a draw against his former club in stoppage time. His sliced shot ended up wide of the post.
Bohemians (4-4-2): Barry Murphy; Heary, Shelley, Gray, Powell; Anto Murphy (McGlynn 90), Keegan, Cronin, Brennan; Madden, Quigley (Cretaro 66)
Subs not used: Rossiter, Higgins, O’Connor
Sporting Fingal (4-3-3): Clarke; O’Brien, Maher, Browne, Fitzgerald; Finn, Williams, McFaul; C. Byrne (Paisley 85), O’Neill, Quinn (Crowe 78).
Subs not used: James, Kirby, Quigley.
Ref: D Tomney.
