National League Premier Division/ Bohemians 1; Shamrock Rovers 3: Second-half goals from Trevor Molloy and Lee Roche left Bohemians stunned as 10-man Shamrock Rovers further eased their relegation worries to extend their unbeaten run to six games.
Rovers appeared to be hanging on for a point following Keith Doyle's 55th minute sending off. But in their first opportunity to counter-attack on 71 minutes, Marc Kenny's sublime pass put Molloy in behind the Bohemians defence down the inside-right channel. A controlling touch and a stunning right-foot volley saw former Bohemians man Molloy finish with aplomb.
The Rovers faithful had further delight to experience as substitute Lee Roche made it 3-1 on 86 minutes. The 18-year-old, on the pitch two minutes, ran through an absent defence and drilled an unstoppable shot past Gregg.
The game had its usual bite, Bohemians captain Kevin Hunt receiving the first yellow card within 90 seconds for a foul on Molloy. Rovers took the early initiative against a Bohemians side missing its player/manager Gareth Farrelly and key defenders Des Byrne and Ken Oman through suspension.
The ball was in the Bohemians net on three minutes off the head of Jason McGuinness only to be disallowed for a foul on goalkeeper Matt Gregg. A Marc Kenny free-kick was inches over minutes later before Bohemians took the lead against the run of play on 11 minutes.
An error of judgment by Rovers defender Gavin McDonnell allowed Tony Grant in behind him and the striker lobbed Barry Murphy.
With McDonnell's partner McGuinness off the pitch, and about to be taken away on a stretcher following a clash of heads with a team-mate, Murphy had to make a good save from Grant's header on 21 minutes.
In keeping with the excitement, Tony Sheridan, on as the substitute, equalised for Rovers within two minutes.
McDonnell redeemed his early error to put Molloy in behind the Bohemians defence. Sheridan arrived to apply the finish, side footing the ball through the legs of Gregg.
With Rovers disrupted defensively, Bohemians soon took a territorial grip on the game and had several openings to regain the lead before the interval. Brian Shelley moved into central defence and proved his worth within minutes as he took the ball off the toe of Grant.
Some unorthodox defending from Doyle almost resulted in a goal as the left-back's header from Fergal Harkin's corner bounced over his own crossbar before McDonnell took the full force of a goal-bound shot from Kelly. Derek Tracey then got his body in the way of a drive from Mark O'Brien after Ward set him up in the final minute of the half.
The second half was slow to ignite, though Doyle provided the spark 10 minutes in with a dreadful tackle on Stephen Rice which brought a straight red card.
There were one or two more twists to come, however.
BOHEMIANS: Gregg; Rice, Palmer, Lee, Keddy (Duggan 87 mins); Harkin, O'Brien (Powell, 79 mins), Hunt, Ward; Kelly; Grant.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Murphy; Shelley, McGuinness (Sheridan, 21), McDonnell, Doyle; Quigley (Sweetman, 90 mins), Kenny, Tracey, Rutherford; Molloy (Roche, 84 mins), Foley.
Referee: I Stokes (Dublin).
