Bohemians 2 - 1 Shamrock Rovers

Bohemians re-established their four point cushion at the top of the eircom Premier League on Tuesday night as they edged out bitter rivals Shamrock Rovers in a pulsating derby encounter at Dalymount Park.

A sublime Killian Brennan free-kick from 20 yards put the Gypsies ahead against the run of play on 15 minutes before Mark Rossiter powered home an equally spectacular long-range effort before the break. Substitute Eoin Doyle threw the Hoops a lifeline midway through the second half, but Bohs held on for what could well prove to be a crucial victory come the end of the season. Rovers misery was compounded late on when Danny O'Connor was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

With a string of injuries in defence, Bohs manager Pat Fenlon was foreced to re-shuffle his back line with Owen Heary lining up alongside his brother Thomas at centre back. Anthony Murphy dropped in at right back, while John Paul Kelly lined out on the right of midfield after his virtuoso second half display against Cobh Ramblers on Friday night. One other change for Bohs saw Glen Crowe replace Jason Byrne in attack having served his one match suspension.

Pat Scully made two changes to the side which had won so impressively in Derry with Danny O'Connor and Tadhg Purcell replacing Corey Treacy, who dropepd to bench, and Aidan Price. Stephen Rice made his first return to Dalymount since moving to Rovers at the end of last season.

Seventeen points and five places may have seperated these two sides before the game, but it was the away side who started brightest with Sean O'Connor wasting a glorious chance to put Rovers ahead after just four minutes. Some suspect defending from Rossiter at left back allowed O'Connor to hit the by-line and pull the ball back for O'Connor but he blazed over from six yards.

Despite continuing to dominate proceedings, Rovers fell behind to a wonderful Brennan free-kick on 15 minutes. Kelly was tripped by Sean O'Connor on the edge of the Rovers area and Brennan expertly curled the ball home with his left foot, with Rovers 'keeper Barry Murphy rooted to the spot.

Darragh Maguire came within inches of getting his side back on level terms on 24 minutes when he glanced Sean O'Connor's cross narrowly wide of Brian Murphy's right hand post. O'Connor then failed to trouble Brian Murphy with a weak shot from 25 yards on the half hour mark.

Bohs make-shift defence were struggling to cope with the arial threat of Maguire. The former St Pat's defender cushioned header fell into the path of Tadhg Purcell inside the six yard box, but the burly striker just failed to connect and Brian Murphy smothered the ball.

They were made to pay for that miss just moments later as Bohs went up the other end and doubled their advantage, with Rossiter slamming the ball home from 22-yards with a powerful right-footed strike.

Rovers' players had shown signs of in-discipline from the start and Pat Flynn was lucky not to see red for a crude lunge on Stephen O'donnell after the Bohs midfielder had gone in hard on Rice. The referee appeared to take the easy option by booking both Flynn and O'Donnell.

Despite being two goals to the good, Bohs weren't about to take their foot off the pedal and Crowe came agonisingly close to making three right on the stroke of half-time. Kelly's corner was met by the right boot of Crowe whose sizzling shot looked destined for the top corner before Rice somehow got his head on it to turn the ball over.

Scully clearly recognised that his side were being well beaten and rung the changes at the break with Padraig Amond and Eoin Doyle replacing Danny O'Connor and Mark Leech as he switched to a more-attacking 4-3-3 formation. The changes almost brought an instant reward too when Sean O'Connor split the Bohs defence with a neat through ball into the path of Purcell but he was denied by the out-rushing Brian Murphy.

Crowe and Kelly both squandered decent chances for the home side before Rovers grabbed themselves a lifeline on 62 minutes. Madden collected the ball on the right touchline before delivering an inch perfect cross to substitute Doyle who headed home from six yards. That was the first goal Bohs' keeper Brian Murphy had conceded in almost 700 minutes of league football and he will no doubt feel he could've done better as he allowed the ball to spill over him on the line.

The game descended into something of a midfield battle as the second half wore on with chances at a premium. Rovers continued to try and get forward as Bohs looked to catch them on the break. Crowe and Kalonas both passed up half chances for the home side before a last-ditch challenge from Owen Heary denied Amond from point-blank range.

Rovers frustration boiled over in the closing stages with Sean O'Connor shown a second yellow card for a late challenge on O'Donnell. Maguire faced up to referee Damien Hancock on the final whistle as the Bohs players celebrated a victory which extends their unbeaten league run to 18 games and leaves them in positive mood ahead of this Friday's meeting with Cork City at Turner's Cross.

Bohemians: Brian Murphy; Anthony Murphy, Owen Heary, Thomas Heary, Mark Rossiter (Conor Powell 58); John Paul Kelly (Jason Byrne 86), Gary Deegan, Stephen O'Donnell, Killian Brennan (Mindaugas Kalonas 46); Neale Fenn, Glen Crowe.
Subs not used: Chris Konopka, Sean Byrne.

Booked: O'Donnell (40)

Shamrock Rovers: Barry Murphy; Ger O'Brien, Pat Flynn, Simon Madden, Darragh Maguire; Eric McGill, Danny O'Connor (Eoin Doyle 46), Stephen Rice, Sean OConnor; Tadhg Purcell, Mark Leech (Padraigh Amond 46).
Subs not used: Karl Coleman, Corie Treacy, Darren Stapleton.

Booked: Sean O'Connor (14), Leech (19), Madden (27), Flynn (40), Doyle (90 +3).
Sent Off: S O'Connor (89).

Referee: Damien Hancock.

Attendance: 3,500 (estimate)

Man of the match: Gary Deegan (Bohemians).