Bohemians 3 Shamrock Rovers 2: New Bohemians player-manager Gareth Farrelly was in the stands last night to see the best and the worst of his new side in a 3-2 victory over Shamrock Rovers at Dalymount Park.

Farrelly, who assumes his new role next Tuesday, must be wondering which side was the true Bohemians as they gave a Jekyll and Hyde performance falling behind in a pantomime of circumstances in the first half only to hit back brilliantly in the second half for a well deserved victory.

Quite what Farrelly made of it all is unknown, though following a barren month for the club during which they were knocked out of the FAI Cup and also failed to score a single goal, he will at least be encouraged by the creative edge to their game, especially in the second half.

Bohemians started brightly though there were warning signs early on with Rovers looking threatening from set-pieces as Terry Palmer and Jason McGuinness, twice, worried the Bohemians defence.

But it was from open play that the visitors took the lead in the 33rd minute.

Seamus Kelly had easily caught a Trevor Molloy cross and he then strolled to the edge of his box as the quick-thinking Molloy snuck-in behind the Bohemians goalkeeper.

With the Bohemians fans roaring in best Dublin wit "he's behind you", Kelly unadvisedly threw the ball in front of him at which point Molloy struck, racing past to dispossess him before shooting into the empty net.

However, the home side were spurred on and could have been level before half-time when James Keddy burst through onto a Dominic Foley pass only for his attempted lob to be straight at goalkeeper Noel Mooney.

But immediately after half time, they drew level.

There was a hint of offside as Keddy's pass released GlenCrowe behind the Rovers back line allowing the striker to race in and score at the second attempt after Mooney had done well to save his first effort.

Three minutes later, all traces of the first-half pantomime were laid to rest.

Mooney did well to turn a Dominic Foley header around the post for a corner, but he turned villain from the resulting set-piece.

Mooney got no where near Kevin Hunt's centre allowing Morrison to prod into an empty net after Colin Hawkins' effort had been blocked.

And in the 67th minute, Crowe made absolutely sure of the result with a flick on from Hawkins' goal-bound header that beat Mooney, already committed to saving Hawkins' effort.

Rovers fought back late on when Jason McGuinness scored his third goal in as many games against Bohemians this season when he headed home a Robinson cross in the last minute but it was too little too late.

BOHEMIANS: Kelly; Rice, Hawkins, Heary, Webb; Ryan, Hunt, Keddy, Morrison; Foley, Crowe. Subs: Grant for Foley (79 mins), Lynch for Webb (80 mins)

SHAMROCK ROVERS: N Mooney; Deans, Palmer, McGuinness, Doyle; O'Brien, O'Halloran, Gough; Robinson, Molloy, Rutherford. Subs: Caffrey for Deans (66 mins), D Mooney for O'Halloran (85 mins)

Referee: D McKeon (Dublin).