Bohemians 4 - 0 Shamrock Rovers

Bohemians inflicted another heavy defeat on Shamrock Rovers at Dalymount Park on Friday night with two goals each from Peter McMahon and Karl Moore giving Bohs a 4-0 win over their biggest rivals.

After a quiet opening, Shamrock Rover's Billy Dennehy had the game's first shot from outside the area in the 10th minute which ended up very far wide.

However, just a minute later Bohemians took the lead. Dwayne Wilson crossed from the right and Peter McMahon found himself unmarked at the back post and his crisp volley went into the corner of the net despite the best efforts of Oscar Jansson.

The early goal seemed to boost Bohs’ confidence. They had a half chance in the 27th minute. Keith Ward's freekick from the right found its way to Owen Heary in space at the back post. The Bohs captain took the ball down on his chest but his half volley was too high.
 

Bohemians continued to have most of the pIay and in the 36th minute Keith Ward's inviting cross was met by the head of David Mulcahy. The Bohemians midfielder headed just wide from six-yards out. Just a minute later Dwayne Wilson found himself through on goal but he somehow shot across goal when it seemed easier to score.

The champions came back into it towards the end of the half and they very nearly hit back in the 40th minute. Billy Dennehy struck a wonderful free kick from about 25-yards out. His shot beat Andy McNulty but hit the crossbar.
 

On the stroke of half time Dennehy came close again. After Luke Byrne was booked for a foul on Gary McCabe just outside the area, Rover's number 20 took the free kick and he beat McNulty once again but his effort just shaved the post.

Bohemians went two up in the 51st minute. Rovers captain Ken Oman gave the ball away to Keith Buckley. Buckley played in Dwayne Wilson and, like he did for the first goal, Wilson played in Peter McMahon who had the much simpler task of knocking it into the net from six-yards out.

Things went from bad to worse for Stephen Kenny's side in the 57th minute as Keith Ward raced through on goal. Half-time substitute Stephen O'Donnell took him out of it just outside the area and referee Rob Rogers produced a red card straight away. Ward's shot was too high from the resultant free kick.

Shamrock Rovers did come close to pulling one back in the 79th minute. Captain Oman struck a fine shot which Andy McNulty managed to parry to safety.

However Bohs were not to be denied and they scored a third in the 84th minute. Dinny Corcoran gathered possession on the halfway line and raced towards goal. Corcoran tried to round Oscar Jansson but the keeper took him down. The ball broke to Karl Moore who had the simple task of slotting the ball home into the empty net.

Gary Twigg did hit the post soon after the third goal but things got even better for the Gypsies in the 88th minute.  Moore set off on a solo run and beat Oman and shot goalwards before Oscar Jansson let the ball slip under his body and into the net for the home team's fourth of the night.

This was Shamrock Rover's heaviest defeat in the league since they lost 5-1 to St. Pat’s earlier this season. For Bohemians it was a night of celebration for their players and jubilant supporters after they secured a thoroughly deserved  victory.

Bohemians: Andy McNulty; Owen Heary (c) (Michael Barker 72), Evan McMillan, Kevin Feely, Luke Byrne; Keith Buckley (Dinny Corcoran 81), David Mulcahy, Ryan McEvoy, Keith Ward, Peter McMahon (Karl Moore 67); Dwayne Wilson.
Subs not used: Craig Sexton, Roberto Lopes, Stephen Traynor, Danny Joyce.
Booked: L Byrne (45), Ward (66).

 

Shamrock Rovers: Oscar Jansson; Kerrea Gilbert (Stephen O'Donnell 46), Ken Oman (c), Graham Gartland, Conor Powell; Gary McCabe, Conor McCormack (Aaron Greene 80), Ronan Finn, Billy Dennehy; Gary O'Neill (Chris Turner 55), Gary Twigg.
Subs not used: Craig Sives, Stephen Rice, Killian Brennan, Reyaad Pieterse.
Booked: Gartland (31), Oman (87).
Sent-off: S O'Donnell (57).
 

Referee: Rob Rogers.
Attendance: 2,825.
Extratime.ie man of the match: Dwayne Wilson (Bohemians).