Bohemians 1 Shamrock Rovers 0
Dave Mulcahy led by example as he capped an inspired display with the only goal of a thrilling Dublin derby at Dalymount Park to drag Bohemians off the foot of the table.
The victory, only Bohemians’ second in 16 games stretching back to their last home win at the end of April, was all the sweeter as it heaped further despair on arch-rivals Shamrock Rovers’ shocking league campaign.
It marked a third successive league defeat for Rovers whose misery on the night was compounded by their missing a late penalty.
Trailing to Mulcahy’s early goal, Trevor Croly’s side looked set to level when referee Padraigh Sutton pointed to the spot for an apparent handball by Derek Pender on 79 minutes.
But Ronan Finn blasted his spot kick off the crossbar as Bohemians survived to hold out for a massive win which, due to both Shelbourne and Bray losing, lifts them two places off the bottom.
Early chants from the Rovers’ fans in the school end of “Bohs are going down” were promptly silenced as the home side took what proved their matchwinning lead from a training ground corner routine on three minutes.
Andy Mulligan, who’d won it in the first place, put the ball low into the area. Anto Murphy dummied it for Luke Byrne to shoot, and though he scuffed his effort, skipper Mulcahy gleefully helped the ball to the net.
Bohemians survived Rovers' spell of pressure to come within inches of stretching their lead in a lightning counterattack on the hour mark.
BOHEMIANS: Delany; Pender, Lopes, A Murphy, L Byrne; Shannon (Buckley, 53), Mulcahy, D Byrne, Mulligan; C Murphy (Traynor, 60), Corcoran (Scully, 83).
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Murphy; McCormack, Sullivan, Oman, Powell; Ryan; McCabe (Stewart, h/t), Finn, Robinson (Zayed, 85), Ledwith (Quigley, 65); Sheppard.
Referee: Padriagh Sutton (Clare).
