Alan Reynolds acknowledged that lady luck was on Bohemians' side in the latter stages of their Dublin Derby victory over Shamrock Rovers, but the Bohs manager said his team deserved their victory.
The Gypsies had elected to give up home advantage at Dalymount Park for a showpiece game for the SSE Airtricity League, and it paid off handsomely.
Ross Tierney's first-half goal from close range was enough to secure the points on offer against their fiercest rivals, while the attendance of over 32,000 was an all-time record for the league.
"It was the first game of the season but it had a kind of cup final feel do it," Reynolds said afterwards.
"The Dublin derbies are more than just a game. Lose and it's the end of the world; win and you're on top of the world so we're delighted.
"We worked hard and we had to dig in at the end of the game, the last 15 or 20 minutes.
"We've been back [since] December and we had to dig in in December when nobody is watching and you're running hard in bad weather.
"It stood to us near the end of that game. We rode our luck a little bit at the end, a couple of times, but I thought in the first half we could have got another one or two.
"It's a start for us, 35 games to go. If we could finish up in here like we started the season I'd be a happy man."
Reynolds named four new signings - Niall Morahan, John Mountney, Connor Parsons and Lys Mousset - in his starting team with Parsons looking the pick of the bunch, particularly in the first half.
Much of the build up surrounded Mousset, having played in the Premier League as recently as 2021, although the Frenchman hadn't played a competitive game, due to injury, since May 2023.
"You can see Lys needs work," Reynolds acknowledged when asked about the striker.
"If Lys gets a chance I'd back him to score. That's an introduction for him to let him know what the league is about. It's not a cakewalk. He'll know that now, playing against a really good side.
"Connor Parsons was exceptional. He'll be one that the fans will love. Really quick, one v one, takes people on.
"I felt we missed that a bit at times last year and he'll get better."
For opposite number Stephen Bradley, it was a comedown after Thursday's impressive victory away to Molde in the Conference League.
Rovers pushed hard and teenage sensation Michael Noonan went close twice in the second half, with Victor Ozhianvuna also missing a chance from point blank range.
"First half we were slow in seeing the picture of where we could hurt them," Bradley said afterwards.
"Thursday probably played a part in that in terms of the fatigue. Once we saw the pictures and spaces at half-time we became quicker and really controlled the game in the second half.
"We should have at least got a draw when you look at the chances we had. Even though we weren't at our best in the first half, on another day Graham Burke has two and Danny Mandroiu has one.
"We definitely shouldn't lose the game with the chances we created and the second-half performance."
Bradley also voiced his criticism towards Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson in relation to comments regarding Shamrock Rovers players following their European success, saying "hopefully they will get career change from this success".
"We have got an international manager telling my players to leave to have a chance to play for Ireland. That’s incredibly disrespectful to me and the league, and everyone who works every day in this league," said Bradley.
"That’s the message that came out after our European run at Christmas time. I think that shows you the thoughts they have on this league. They will give you sound bites but I think that really shows what they feel about the league.
"I actually can’t believe [journalists] did not pick up on it and he wasn’t questioned on it."
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