It wasn't a bad way for Bohemians manager Turlough O'Connor to kick off his farewell tour. His side have fared well against their northside neighbours over the past couple of seasons (this made it four wins and a draw in five meetings), but last night's victory must have given the visitors' outgoing boss particular pleasure.

His players, clearly having felt that the club's decision to announce his retirement this week was premature, marked his last appearance in the Tolka Park dugout with a fine performance that earned his side another three points and him a standing ovation.

Shelbourne needed the win to give themselves any sort of security at the top of the table, and while a Rovers win in Inchicore tomorrow will keep them there, Damien Richardson may have somewhat mixed feelings about a third team edging its way into what had recently settled into a two-way tussle for the lead.

For Bohemians, or more precisely for O'Connor, the target now is fourth place, for not once in 19 years in management has one of his sides finished lower in the final table. There's still some way to go, of course, but on the strength of last night's performance the move upstairs over the summer may still be completed with that fine record in tact.

For the home side, there had been a string of injury worries before this game, and if the fact that Greg Costello, Dessie Baker and Stephen Geoghegan all passed late fitness tests helped Damien Richardson to cobble together a game plan before kick-off, it ended up having to be discarded soon enough anyway as Bohemians took the lead from the penalty spot in the 16th minute.

Derek McGrath was the one brought down by Tony McCarthy just inside the area, and from the moment Donal Broughan drove the ball home - with only slightly less conviction than he managed at the wrong end against Cork a couple of weeks ago - Shelbourne were obliged to push forward with even more gusto than usual.

Sure enough, there were chances. Plenty of them. But with Stephen Geoghegan having an off night, Baker never really getting the ball in the sort of positions from which he might have had a clean attempt on goal and Pat Fenlon side-footing the best chance over an open goal from a couple of yards, Dave Henderson had little enough to do through the remainder of the half.

On the flanks, the movement of Tony Sheridan and Mark Rutherford helped to ensure that the game was played at a fairly relentless pace.

Eventually, a hint of niggle crept into the proceedings; Rutherford and McGrath were embroiled in a continuing tussle, and Pat Fenlon and Broughan occasionally lived down to the less attractive side of their reputations.

The game, as a result, became a good deal more disjointed, a state of affairs not helped by the referee's repeated refusal to give either team a crack at playing an advantage.

Still, there were opportunities at both ends. Brian Mooney enjoyed the best of a handful for the Gypsies with a couple of fine shots from the edge of the area which Alan Gough did well to stop. Gough did better still to get out and gather at the feet of Graham Lawlor when Dave Smith's poor backpass almost put the striker clear.

Richardson switched to a threeman strike force with 15 minutes left in a bid to win back the initiative, but the Bohemians defence remained solid around their area with the result that Shelbourne's best chances late on where from a long way out. None even hit the target and Bohemians, deservedly, took the points.

Shelbourne: Gough; Smith, Scully, McCarthy, Neville; Sheridan, Costello, Fenlon, Rutherford; Baker, S Geoghegan. Subs: Kelly for Neville (76 mins).

Bohemians: Henderson; Broughan, O'Driscoll, Mullen, O'Connor; McGrath, P Hanrahan, Doolin, Mooney; Swan, Lawlor. Subs: Markey for Swan (83 mins).

Referee: H Byrne (Dublin).