Shamrock Rovers 2 Bohemians 0:THE STRIKES were worthy of settling any contest but Shamrock Rovers made their supporters wait. Bohemians held out in determined fashion for 78 minutes before an excellent Gary Twigg goal and an injury-time contribution from Billy Dennehy secured a deserved win.

Ronan Finn and Twigg, Rovers best players on the night, combined with 12 minutes on the clock and puncture the Bohemians resistance. The Scot cushioned Finn’s cross and shot past Andy McNulty and send the home fans into raptures.

The first chance came on 13 minutes and it was glaring. Finn advanced unopposed from midfield and slid a pass in for Twigg. The striker’s first touch was exquisite but he could only poke a shot at the legs of McNulty in the Bohemians goal. Kerrea Gilbert’s side-footed the rebound high into the Tallaght sky.

Aaron O’Callaghan’s men gained confidence as the half progressed but it was Rovers who carved out the next opportunity when Killian Brennan found Finn in plenty of space on 35 minutes. The midfielder unloaded a shot that seared McNulty’s fingertips and forced a corner.

With the home fans getting restless, it was left to Twigg to make his mark. Finn curled a cross into the heart of the box and two sumptuous, left-footed touches later the ball was gliding past McNulty and into the net.

There was still 10 minutes left on the clock and O’Callaghan threw on John O’Connor and Dinny Corcoran. Rovers goalkeeper Oscar Jansson presented Corcoran with a glorious chance to level with a weak punch but his lobbed return clipped the post.

Rovers streamed forward in the final moments and O’Neill did well to tee up Dennehy for a low strike to the bottom right-hand corner of the net.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Jansson; Gilbert (Gannon 72), Sives, Oman (c), Brennan; Dennehy, Rice (O’Neill 67), Finn, Turner, Greene (Kavanagh 72); Twigg.

BOHEMIANS: McNulty; Pender (O’Connor 84), Heary (c), McMillan, Harney; Moore, Martin, Mulcahy, Joyce (Ward 58), Traynor; Scully (Corcoran 84).

Referee: R Winter (Wicklow).