National League Premier Division: Bohemians 2 Shelbourne 0: As if to contrast the clubs' respective seasons to date, Bohemians injected new life into the title race to reduce Shelbourne's lead at the top of the table to eight points with this emphatic win.
Having lost just once in their opening 20 games, Shelbourne have now been beaten four times in their last nine.
If Bohemians can repeat this performance and, more importantly, the result, when the sides meet again at Tolka Park on Friday night, the champions could be under pressure to retain their title.
An utterly dominant Bohemians could even afford the luxury of a missed penalty before goals from Stephen Ward and Glen Crowe earned them their win to stretch their uneaten run to 12 league games.
It was no surprise that Shelbourne retained the same starting XI that won so convincingly at Drogheda on Friday.
Bohemians doing likewise raised an eyebrow or two, however. Particularly so concerning captain Kevin Hunt, who, suspended for the 2-2 draw with St Patrick's Athletic in missing his first game of the season, was dropped to the bench.
The decision to keep the same team was soon justified by Bohemians' manager Gareth Farrelly, as the game lived up to its top-of-the-table billing from the start with Bohemians in the ascendancy.
It didn't augur well for Bohemians early on, though, as, with their regular captain and penalty taker in the dugout, they missed a spot kick after just three minutes.
In some way justice was served as referee Pat Whelan's award of the penalty for a challenge on James Keddy by Shelbourne captain Owen Heary appeared harsh.
Bobby Ryan must have been of similar persuasion, such was his dreadfully poor effort from 12 yards which Steve Williams all too easily saved.
That aside, the Bohemians right winger was excellent, always posing a threat to the Shelbourne defence by continually running at them.
Bohemians' onslaught didn't relent with Shelbourne surviving with their goal intact again on 10 minutes. Williams uncharacteristically dropped a long, diagonal free-kick from Damien Lynch. Colin Hawkins, captain in Hunt's absence, and perhaps surprised to get the half chance, didn't really get hold of his shot which was cleared by Jamie Harris.
Remarkably, an opening out of nothing then presented Shelbourne with a clear chance within a further minute of a hectic derby.
A scuffed shot from strike partner Alan Moore landed invitingly at the feet of Jason Byrne. Bohemians goalkeeper Matt Gregg rewarded his manager's decision to retain him with a brave stop from the league's 22-goal leading scorer.
That scare over, Bohemians regained the initiative and took the lead with another positive, direct attack on 26 minutes.
Grant flicked a ball on to Keddy down the inside right channel. The former Shelbourne title winner's shot from the acute angle was deflected up into the air by the save of Williams.
The danger remained as Crowe seemed set to volley home the rebound.
The home crowd's gasps at their former Irish international having a fresh air were soon raised to loud cheers as Ward drilled a left-foot shot to the net from the opposite side of the area.
Bohemians started the second half with all guns blazing and soon doubled their lead when Crowe compensated fully for his first-half miss with a clinical finish off his trusted left foot for his 15th league goal of the season.
Shelbourne remarkably did not having a shot on target in the second half as Bohemians ran out all too comfortable winners.
BOHEMIANS: Gregg; Rice, Heary, Hawkins, Webb; Ryan, Keddy, Lynch, Ward (Caffrey, 63 mins.); Crowe, Grant.
SHELBOURNE: Williams; Heary, Harris, Rogers, Crawley (Fitzpatrick, 59 mins); Hoolahan (Cawley, 74 mins.), Crawford, S Byrne, Cahill; Moore, J Byrne (G McCarthy, 85 mins.).
Referee: P Whelan (Dublin).
