Bohemians 0 Shamrock Rovers 1:SHAMROCK ROVERS put their Champions League disappointment behind them with this hard-fought victory over bitter Dublin rivals Bohemians at Dalymount Park last night.

Bohemians made it hard for the champions but the breakthrough finally came on 66 minutes. Billy Dennehy floated an inviting free kick into the area that both Dean Kelly and Gary Twigg jumped for but it was Twigg who got the vital final touch to nod the ball past Barry Murphy.

Games between the sides always prove to be full-blooded and keenly-contested encounters and this one was no different with seven players, three Bohemians and four Rovers, being booked by referee Damien Hancock.

Indeed the animosity between the sides was evident before kick-off when a small section of Rovers fans hissed and chanted through a minute’s silence for a recently-deceased Bohemians fan.

Bohemians threatened the visitors as early as the second minute when a lack of concentration in the Rovers defence allowed Christy Fagan take possession on edge of the penalty area. However, with little support evident his options were limited and his subsequent cross-cum-shot flew across the face goal, doing nothing to trouble Rovers goalkeeper Ryan Thompson.

Bohemians held a slightly upper hand as the game developed but Killian Brennan should have done better on eight minutes when he curled his corner kick into the arms of the grateful Thompson.

Rovers’ hitman Twigg had his first decent chance on 10 minutes. Kelly played a one-two with Dennehy from his corner-kick and whipped the ball into the area. Twigg connected, but Bohemians goalkeeper Barry Murphy was well-placed to save the Scotsman’s header.

Rovers were coming more and more into the game with Dennehy in particular looking dangerous on the break. The visitors kept up the pressure and continued to look the more livelier side. They went close again to opening their account on 26 minutes.

The excellent Enda Stevens curled the ball in from the left of the box where it was met by Kelly. His powerful header hit the crossbar and rebounded out to Stephen Rice who blasted high and wide.

Dennehy should have done better again, on 40 minutes, when he sent his free kick directly at Murphy but the winger did find the target on the stroke of half-time with a low drive that forced a good save from the goalkeeper.

That chance came just seconds after a bizarre incident at the other end. Thompson and his defender Dan Murray confronted each other after a mix up nearly let Bohemians in on goal. The Rovers net-minder clearly looked the more annoyed and vocal of the two and had to be calmed down by Pat Flynn.

Rovers started the second period in strong fashion and Murphy was called into action on 50 minutes to tip over Craig Sives’ header following a superb Conor McCormack free-kick.

The Bohemians defence then did the necessary work two minutes later when Twigg met Dennehy’s corner but could only manage to power his header over the top.

Bohemians had their chances too and at every opportunity sent balls into the area for Fagan and Bayly to chase. Thompson looked shaky when dealing with several of the Bohemians attacks but was well-protected by his defence.

However, Rovers continued to look the more likely of the two sides to score and they did just that on 66 minutes. Dennehy delivered a wonderful corner into the area and Twigg got in ahead of Kelly to nod the ball past Murphy.

This setback stung Bohs into action and they made a series of raids into the Rovers danger area. Bohemians captain Owen Heary did well on 75 minutes to beat two Rovers men on the edge of the box and cross invitingly for Ger O’Brien but the latter couldn’t get find the required finish and smashed the ball over the top. O’Brien and Brennan also had late chances but couldn’t find the net.

BOHEMIANS: Murphy; Rossiter (Cahill 59 mins), Price, Burns, Heary; OBrien; Brennan, Buckley, Cronin; Fagan (Forrester, 84 mins), Bayly (Downes, 59 mins).

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Thompson; Stevens, Murray, Sives, Flynn; Dennehy (Moore 87 mins), McCormack, Rice, Finn (ONeill 75, mins), Kelly; Twigg (Kilduff, 90+2)

Referee: D Hancock (Dublin).