Shelbourne...0 Bohemians...1It may go down in Dalymount folklore as the title that was won in Tolka, but for Shelbourne this campaign was lost a long time ago.

Shelbourne simply gave themselves too much to do over the second half of a season in which Bohemians joyously made the early running. By yesterday they needed a win over their rivals and then a favour or two from much lesser teams. It was always an unlikely enough scenario and in the circumstances it was hardly a great surprise when, for all their efforts in a fast and occasionally furious game, they found themselves the victims of a late Bobby Ryan goal that confirmed what we thought three months ago - Bohemians are the league's best team.

There is never any shame in losing to the best and Shelbourne can take pride from the way they took this game to their visitors. From the kick-off the pace was terrific, and though as a contest it was entertaining for the bulk of the 90 minutes, it was a pity neither side quite managed to produce the sort of football we have seen during the past few months, and that referee Paul McKeon didn't find a way of allowing it to flow more.

Had there been more composure there might well have been more scoring chances, but a first half packed with passionate defensive work and tireless running in midfield provided almost nothing of note from either attack.

At one stage Derek Coughlan almost managed to gift Wes Hoolahan a shot at an open goal, after heading past his own goalkeeper, but Ashley Bayes reacted swiftly to smother the loose ball. Apart from that, the best we got inside either box were scrambles as the apparently boundless energy of both teams ensured there were always bodies on hand to make any block that might be required.

The home side were edging things at this stage with Owen Heary looking outstanding both in defence and, on his frequent breaks down the right, attack. But much of what ended up reaching their frontmen was in the air where Coughlan and, in particular, Colin Hawkins, had little trouble coping.

Ollie Cahill, like Richie Partridge on Shelbourne's other wing a largely peripheral figure, came closest to giving the home side the lead with just over an hour played when Heary's cross allowed him to head firmly towards the bottom left corner. Bayes made a fine stop, though, and the Coughlan attempt on goal that followed at the other end within 90 seconds marked a major shift in the balance of the game.

The offensive threat posed by Shelbourne steadily declined as their midfield tired under the pressure exerted by Kevin Hunt and Stephen Caffrey. Their strikers began to look isolated and for the first time Bohemians' defenders moved forward without any great threat of getting caught out.

The additional support was welcome out wide where Ryan had never enjoyed the sort of space he yearned for on the right and Mark Rutherford had barely once got the better of Heary.

Up front Paul Keegan looked increasingly likely to open things up with one of his lay-offs or angled through balls.

But when the goal finally came with less than two minutes of ordinary time remaining, the former Bray striker was an onlooker as a long free by Bayes was headed into the path of Ryan by a defender and the low cross that followed evaded first Gary O'Neill and then, as he closed in at the far post, Rutherford. The winger reacted quickly, though, and having retrieved the ball crossed neatly for Ryan whose header was well placed beyond the reach of Steve Williams.

Shelbourne's answer was to bring on Tony Sheridan and hope the 28-year-old could produce a touch of the magic he was once known for around Tolka Park. By then, only a miracle could have kept Bohemians from the title.

There were a couple of desperate attacks by the hosts but Bohemians played their advantage well - just as they have since Ryan scored their winner at UCD on the opening day of the season and the talk started that this might once again turn out to be their year.

SHELBOURNE: Williams; Heary, Doherty (Sheridan, 90 mins), Gannon, Crawley; R Baker, D Byrne, Crawford, Cahill; Geoghegan (Beavers, 71 mins), Hoolahan (Roberts, 78 mins).

BOHEMIANS: Bayes; Lynch, Coughlan, Hawkins, Webb; Ryan, Caffrey, Hunt, Rutherford; Keegan, O'Neill.

Referee: P McKeon

<Mission complete: how they stand with two games to play

P W D L F A Pts

Bohemians 25 15 8 2 45 24 53

Shelbourne 25 14 4 7 41 24 ... 46

Shamrock Rovers 25 11 6 8 39 27 39

Cork City 24 11 6 7 37 31 39