Bohemians - 0 Longford Town - 1: Longford Town ended Bohemians' recent good run in the Premier Division and in turn leapfrogged them in the table with victory at Dalymount Park last night.

A first-half strike from Alan Kirby was enough to give the midlanders all three points and their first win over Bohemians at the venue.

The home side had their chances to grab an equaliser, the best of which came in the closing stages when substitute Mark Leech directed a close-range header over.

Stephen Caffrey made his first appearance for Bohemians in two years, coming in for Barry Ferguson in defence, and he and colleagues were under pressure from the off when David Freeman got in behind but his finish was saved by goalkeeper Stephen O'Brien.

Paul Devlin was causing problems at the other end. His cheeky lob forced Mick Dempsey to tip the ball over the bar, and another curling shot from the former Scottish international flashed just wide also.

Longford pressure paid off just after the half hour when Kirby curled in a beautiful effort.

That had the home side reeling and Gareth Farrelly again led the charge when his powerful free-kick looked to have not been held by Dempsey on the goal-line. The linesman gave the goalkeeper the benefit of the doubt, though, and the midlanders survived.

Leech's introduction did rouse a response from the home crowd when he flashed a shot just wide, but Freeman should have extended Longford's lead a minute later when his header from six yards went wide.

Longford had to survive some nervy moments but prevailed for the maximum return.

BOHEMIANS: O'Brien; Rice, Caffrey (O'Keefe, 83), McGuinness, Byrne; Kelly, Duggan (Harkin, 78), Farrelly, Ward; Arkins (Leech, 55), Devlin.

LONGFORD: Dempsey; Murphy, Gough, O'Connor, Prunty; Baker (Mooney, 62), Byrne (Doherty 15), Fitzgerald, Kirby (Brennan, 83); Freeman, Martin.

Referee: D Hanney (Dublin).