Title-chasing Shamrock Rovers continued their unbeaten start to the season with a dominant display against a brave Bohemians side outclassed on this historic occasion.
A crowd of 1,111 were in attendance for the first ever meeting between the two fierce rival clubs, which saw goals from Jess Gargan, Abbie Larkin and an Aine O'Gorman double secure bragging rights for the Hoops at a wet and chilly Tallaght stadium.
Following a pretty tight, tense opening few minutes, the March player of the month Jaime Thompson, given her exhilarating recent form, should have got her side in front after just 11 minutes when she had been teed up on the edge of the area but dragged her powerful shot just wide of the near post as the hosts began to dictate proceedings.
Minutes later, and just as the heavens opened again, the young Rovers starlet Thompson went close to finding the top corner with a terrific left-footed effort from just outside the area.
But the visitors continued to hold firm and it was a star of their own, Sarah Rowe, who looked the most dangerous attacking threat for the visitors.
Rowe, who was developing an entertaining tussle with the lightning-quick Lia O’Leary at left back for the Hoops, had two shots from distance in quick succession, the second of which stung the palms of ex-Shebourne stopper Amanda Budden.
Midway through the half the Bohs resilience was finally broken when Thompson floated in a beautiful inswinging free-kick - through that corridor of uncertainty between defenders and keeper - finding the head of Jess Gargan, who guided a flicked header into the empty net.
Five minutes before the break it was another quality Thompson set-piece that forced the second. The 18-year-old’s brilliant delivery, from the right this time, caused all sorts of confusion in the Bohs backline with the ball eventually bounced up off the arm of the helpless Niamh Prior, who was looking in the opposite direction.
Up stepped Ireland international O’Gorman, who made no mistake from the spot, calmly sending Rachael Kelly the wrong way.
The three points were secured when fellow Ireland international Abbie Larkin showed great pace and composure, latching onto an Aoife Kelly through ball, to add a third just before the break.
Bohs refused to lie down and started the second half in spirited fashion, epitomised by the relentless work rate of Erica Burke up front. And the Bohs skipper was unlucky to see her looping header just sail over the bar, having been found by a whipped Prior cross from the left.
But on the hour mark, and slightly against the run of play, the pacy Larkin turned provider, delivering a devilishly whipped low cross that was turned home by O’Gorman from close range for her second of the evening.
With a massive mouthwatering clash away to table-topping Peamount on the horizon, Rovers boss Collie O’Neill rang the changes but there was still time for player of the match Larkin to smash the post from a tight angle having rounded Bohs stopper minutes from the end.
Bohs search for consistency continues next Saturday when they make the long journey to face a Cork side languishing second from bottom, who will be looking to kickstart their own season.
Shamrock Rovers: Amanda Budden, Jess Gargan (Aoibhe Fleming, 82’), Shauna Fox, Jessica Hennessy (Abby Tuthill, 82’), Abbie Larkin, Aoife Kelly, Alannah McEvoy, Lia O’Leary (Savannah McCarthy, 45’), Aine O’Gorman, Orlaith O’Mahony (Melissa O’Kane, 68’), Jaime Thompson (Lauren Kelly, 73’)
Subs not used: Alannah Prizeman, Chloe McCarthy, Summer Lawless, Shannon Coady
Bohemian FC: Rachael Kelly, Katie Lovely, Lisa Murphy, Ciara Maher, Katie Burdis (Lara Phipps, 73’), Fiona Donnelly, Rachel Doyle (Kira Bates Crosbie, 45’), Mia Dodd, Niamh Prior (Lynn Craven 64’), Sarah Rowe, Erica Burke
Subs not used: Ella Brennan, Aoife Robinson, Erica Byrne, Abbie O’Hara, Leah Hughes, Sadhbh Moran
Referee: Mark Houlihan
