Shamrock Rovers 0 Bohemians 1:AS WORD started to go around that Derry had toppled the early league leaders across the city, Bohemians mounted a desperate late defence of a narrow lead at Tolka Park to move joint second in the table. Back at the ground where he won the third of his the league winner's medals with Shelbourne 18 months ago, Glen Crowe pounced on a defensive mistake early in the second half to give Bohemians an important victory over their old rivals.
They will surely manage prettier wins in the months ahead but it's hard to imagine the Bohemians supporters enjoying any quite as much as they did this.
Rovers showed huge determination late on to rescue something from the encounter but the home side simply couldn't find a way of breaking their opponents down.
In the wake of his side's defeat by St Patrick's Athletic last month, Pat Fenlon had admitted his side had been outfought and clearly he'd had a word in the meantime. Here, Bohemians matched their rivals for passion from the word go although such was the pace of the game that composure was in somewhat shorter supply.
Jason Byrne had the best of the first-half chances when he pounced on a hastily cleared ball and forced Barry Murphy into a fine save with a shot from outside the area. But for the most part the strikers were obliged to hurry a succession of close-range efforts with the result that neither goalkeeper had a huge amount to do.
Alan Murphy did better shortly before the break when he cleverly made time and space for himself on the edge of the area only to hit a weak shot straight at Brian Murphy but with the steady rain making life difficult for both sides early on, there were far more mistakes than moments of magic.
The downpour stopped as the second half got under way and the quality of the football started to improve. For a start Bohemians scored which forced a shift in the balance of the game with Rovers immediately placing that little bit more emphasis on attack and their visitors threatening to add a second on the break.
The goal itself was primarily the result of Darragh Maguire's lack of conviction under a high ball towards the Rovers box but after his mistake Crowe did particularly well to pull wide and then sidefoot through the chasing goalkeeper's legs.
It was Crowe's third in five games this season and with Byrne still looking to recover his best form since shaking off a hamstring injury, there seems a real possibility that between them they will provide the goals required for Bohemians to sustain a title bid.
Byrne, indeed, nearly managed his second for the club six minutes from time when a low-angled drive had to be turned on to the post by Murphy with his foot.
Rovers were unable to capitalise on a couple of set pieces and, though he came close twice, Maguire couldn't quite make amends for his earlier error.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: B Murphy; O'Brien, Maguire, Ferguson, D O'Connor (Creevey, 85 mins); Doyle (Martin, 49 mins), Rice, McGill, S O'Connor; A Murphy (Purcell, 55 mins), Baker.
BOHEMIANS: Murphy; O Heary, McGuinness, Burns, Powell; Kelly (Singh, 74 mins), Cronin (Turner, 92 mins), Rossiter, O'Donnell; Byrne, Crowe.
Referee: A Buttimer (Cork).
With just a couple of points apiece to show for their first four league outings, Sligo Rovers and Cobh Ramblers meet this evening at the Showgrounds where both sides will be looking for their first win of the campaign.
Sligo's hopes that their front two might recapture the prolific form shown through much of last season will be dealt a blow if Fahrudin Kuzovic fails to recover from an ankle injury in time to play. Paul Cook must also wait to assess Sean Doherty's knee injury but Gavin Pers and Chris Butler are fit again and both look likely to start the game.
Ramblers are finding life on the road in the top flight difficult so far and Stephen Henderson has worries about Alan Carey (hamstring), Ken Coleman (groin) and Shane Guthrie (ankle) as he weighs up how his side might take something away with them this evening.
