Bohemians remain top of the early Premier Division table after they survived a stoppage-time scare to eventually see off Shamrock Rovers at a raucous turned nervy Dalymount Park.
It looked to be plain sailing for Bohs when a first half goal from Connor Parsons, Colm Whelan's second half penalty and a classy third from Ross Tierney seemingly put the game to bed but two added-time goals from Pico Lopes and substitute Aaron Greene made for a nervy climax.
The full-time whistle was greeted with a sigh of relief in the Jodi Stand and the Gypsies have now won four of the last five league games against the defending champions who have continued their habit of making slow starts despite lifting five of the last six league titles.
Despite a bright start, the visitors failed to raise a gallop until it was too late, while Bohs will be hoping they aren’t one-trick ponies and can carry their recent consistency in this fixture into the entire season and perhaps sustain a challenge for silverware.
Rovers had the first shot in anger in the tenth minute, Ed McGinty’s kick found Adam Brennan in space but his shot flew harmlessly over.
A frightful gasp rang around the ground when teenager Brennan stung the fingers of Kacper Chorazka with a sweetly-struck volley from the edge of the area with Patrick Hickey hacking away the leftovers.
That sparked Bohs into life and their best move of the match resulted in the opening goal. Dawson Devoy and Whelan traded nutmegs before Parsons slipped the ball through the legs of McGinty, as this time he grabbed his big moment.
Alan Reynolds’ side finished the half the strongest from there, Dayle Rooney saw a shot flash across the six-yard box but evaded everybody while a flowing move involving Jordan Flores and a Rooney dummy ended with Dan Cleary blocking Ross Tierney’s goal-bound effort.
Bohs might not have wanted to hear the half time whistle, but they needn’t have worried as they emerged from the changing rooms fired up and ready to press on.
Devoy led the charge and saw a shot deflected over the bar before his side deservedly doubled their advantage after Dan Cleary clumsily upended Tierney in the box. Whelan stepped up and drilled the ball low and left in the 56th minute.
The Gypsies showed no signs of letting up and it was Tierney’s turn to enjoy a nutmeg as he started a move and almost finished it, but couldn’t sort his feet out in front of the smothering McGinty before the hour mark.
Stephen Bradley rang the changes for his side but that failed to stop wave after wave of Bohemians attacks and Adam McDonnell will wonder how he didn’t make it three as he saw a close-range header cleared off the line by Graham Burke.
The hosts duly made it three with a late breakaway from Devoy who found Tierney to finish into the bottom corner via the post before a quick-fire Lopes and Greene double made for a nervy final minute.
Bohemians: Kacper Chorazka, Niall Morahan, Jordan Flores, Connor Parsons (Byrne 84), Colm Whelan (Vaughan 90), Dawson Devoy, Dayle Rooney, Patrick Hickey, Adam McDonnell, Sam Todd, Ross Tierney (Martin 90)
Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty, Pico Lopes, Daniel Cleary (Sobowale 65), Dylan Watts (Byrne 65), Matt Healy, Graham Burke, Adam Brennan, Daniel Grant (Mulraney 65), Cory O’Sullivan, Michael Noonan (Greene 79), Victor Ozhianvuna (McGovern 73)
