Bohemian Football Club Crest

Bohemians suffered their third league defeat at Tallaght Stadium in 11 months going down to a Billy Dennehy header from a throw in late in the first half.

This was an absolutely vital win for Shamrock Rovers but the Gypsies’ mood will be improved by the news St Patrick’s Athletic lost to a late goal at home to Drogheda United. This was Bohemians’ first defeat of the season and in a match where chances were at a minimum. On the balance of play they merited a draw but seldom got in behind the Rovers’ defence to trouble the goalkeeper, Alan Mannus.

Rovers had yet to score at home until tonight and when they did it was their first goal from play since October. As everyone is aware of by now, their leading forwards Gary Twigg and Dessie Baker have been out injured but a half-fit Twigg was named on the bench. Clearly, the Tallaght side will not be able to launch another title challenge without them.

Bohemians were the better side early on as they put Rovers on the back-foot deep into their own half. However, it was a cautious start, rather typical of a derby game.

On 17 minutes, the champions were first to threaten. After a sweeping move, Paul Keegan’s superb cross on the right was attacked by Ken Oman but his looping header landed on the top of Mannus’s net.

The Dalymount Park side were becoming bogged down in the fierce competitiveness of the game as Rovers slowly dragged themselves back into the contest. But Bohemians once again threatened with a header as Brennan’s effort flew narrowly wide of the angle of crossbar and post.

Incredibly, Rovers’ first attack resulted in the opening goal on 37 minutes. Aidan Price flicked on Stephen Rice’s long throw and Dennehy met it with a six-yard header that wrong-footed Chris O’Connor and found the bottom left-hand corner.

That goal gave Rovers great encouragement as they pushed forward for the remainder of the half. They went close to grabbing a second on the stroke of half-time when O’Connor fumbled a corner kick and the ball came out to Price who shot inches over via a touch off O’Connor.

Brennan was substituted for Mark Quigley at the break and Bohemians had an effort brilliantly cleared off the line within three minutes of the re-start. Jason Byrne’s corner found Keegan and his stooping header, careering toward the far corner, was headed away by the full-back, Danny Murphy.

But the visitors, despite controlling much of the play, were struggling to create opportunities after going so close. Twigg was introduced with 20 minutes remaining in a bid to lift the Rovers team going into the most crucial phase of the game.

A chance. Cretaro’s deft lay-off found Keegan surging through the middle but Price slid in on the midfielder, putting him off, and he fired straight at Mannus. Byrne carved out a half-chance all by himself at the death with a strong run down the right flank but he shot from a desperately acute angle and it flew wide.

Shamrock Rovers: Mannus; Flynn, Murray (C), Price, Murphy; Chambers, Rice (Bayly, 59), Turner, Cahill (Twigg, 72); Dennehy, Stewart

Bohemians: O’Connor; Shelley, Heary (C) (Madden, 81), Oman, Powell; Brennan (Quigley, HT), Keegan, Cronin (Higgins, 85), McGlynn; Cretaro, Byrne

Possession: Rovers: 48% Bohs: 52%

Attempts on target: Rovers: 1 Bohs: 2

Attempts off target: Rovers: 2 Bohs: 4

Corners: Rovers: 4 Bohs: 4

Bookings: Rovers: None Bohs: Killian Brennan

Sent off: Rovers: None Bohs: None

Referee: Alan Kelly (Cork)