Shamrock Rovers are up and running for 2010 as they recorded their third win in a row against bitter rivals Bohemians at Tallaght Stadium.
Billy Dennehy’s 38th minute header was enough to secure the three points for the Hoops, their first at home this season thanks to their first goal.
The champions can have no complaints after they were denied time and space by the five-man midfield selected by Michael O’Neill who will be delighted with the result and the 18-minute return of Gary Twigg.
Bohemians started the quicker and as Rovers struggled to settle, the visitors looked to force the issue. Aidan Price was forced to put Brian Shelley’s low cross behind, and Paul Keegan sent in a dangerous corner that evaded the attackers.
But the Hoops grew into the game and Dan Murray put the ball wide from a Dennehy free-kick after Keegan and Ken Oman had sandwiched James Chambers.
Chambers was looking the hosts’ best player, while Raffaele Cretaro was moving well up front for Bohs.
Chambers turned Owen Heary and his back-post cross just evaded Dennehy who was lurking dangerously.
Rovers’ midfield were working hard to deny Bohs space and while the Gypsies had plenty of the ball, they were limited to their own half for much of the game.
On one of their forays forward Gareth McGlynn was fouled by Dennehy and while Dan Murray dealt with the initial ball from Keegan, McGlynn and Brian Shelley combined and the right back’s ball was met by Oman whose dipping header cleared the bar.
As half-time approached Jason Byrne cross to the back post and Killian Brennan headed into the side netting.
One minute later the Hoops were ahead.
Oman’s rushed clearance went into the crowd and Stephen Rice’s long throw was flicked on by Murray for Dennehy who wrong-footed Chris O’Connor with a precise header.
All bar the 700 Bohs fans in the southwest Dublin venue went crazy, and they were almost in ecstasy minutes later but Murray’s shot from Chambers’ corner was blocked by Owen Heary, while Rice fired over on the stroke of half-time when Murray beat O’Connor to a high ball.
The second half was all about containing Bohs for Rovers, but the visitors almost got off to the perfect start just two minutes in.
Jason Byrne brilliantly forced a corner with blocks on Price and Murray forcing the former into the concession.
But although Keegan met McGlynn’s corner with a sweet header, Danny Murphy was on hand to clear off the line.
A brief scare came when McGlynn blocked a Murray clearance into the path of Byrne, but Price’s last-ditch tackle denied him and deep into injury time a well-worked move between Cretaro and Byrne saw the striker take himself wide and fire over.
Shamrock Rovers: 1 Alan Mannus; 13 Pat Flynn (17 Sean O’Connor 75), 5 Aidan Price, 24 Dan Murray, 18 Danny Murphy; 20 Billy Dennehy, 6 Stephen Rice (25 Robert Bayly 60), 8 James Chambers, 18 Chris Turner, 11 Ollie Cahill (9 Gary Twigg 72); 23 Thomas Stewart.
Subs not used: 16 Robert Duggan, 14 Graham Barrett.
Bohemians: 25 Chris O’Connor; 5 Brian Shelley, 2 Owen Heary (12 Paddy Madden 81), 6 Ken Oman, 3 Conor Powell; 11 Killian Brennan (16 Mark Quigley h-t), 4 Glenn Cronin 14 (Ruaidhri Higgins 85), 8 Paul Keegan, 7 Gareth McGlynn; 9 Raffaele Cretaro, 10 Jason Byrne.
Subs not used: 1 Barry Murphy, 15 Stephen Gray.
Yellow Cards: (Brennan 36).
Referee: Alan Kelly (Cork).
