Brilliant Bohs give Hoops a hiding

Bohemians produced a top class display to overcome bitter rivals Shamrock Rovers in last night’s Airtricity League Premier Division encounter at a hostile Dalymount Park where fans invaded the pitch.

Rovers were left to rue a lapse in concentration in the 11th minute as Graham Gartland delayed, allowing Dwayne Wilson to seize possession and his precise centre finding the on-rushing Peter McMahon who side-footed home superbly from 16 yards.

An ugly exchange between rival supporters spilt over on to the field, delaying the game by three minutes before Gardaí eventually restored calm.

The hosts, who suffered a dramatic injury time loss to St Patrick’s Athletic last Friday evening, were buoyed by that early strike and took control affairs in midfield, Keith Ward in particular a vibrant presence.

Their confidence was highlighted by Ryan McEvoy’s long-range attempt midway through the half that Oscar Jansson gathered but an excellent run from Finn aside, there was little seen from the Hoops in terms of an attacking threat.

In contrast, their opponents failed to gel throughout the opening half hour with a Dennehy cross sailing harmlessly wide in the 32nd minute.

At the opposite end, Rovers were similarly shoddy with Gartland cautioned for a foul on Keith Buckley before the same player was skinned by Wilson, whose subsequent shot lacked the accuracy to trouble Jansson.

Despite their inefficiencies, the visitors almost drew level in the 40th minute when, following a foul on Gary McCabe, Dennehy curled a 25-yard free-kick onto the top of Andy McNulty’s crossbar before drifting to safety.

There were further encouraging signs for the Hoops as the half concluded with both McCabe and Dennehy going close to restoring parity in the final two minutes of an eventful half.

The visitors’ precarious position saw the introduction of Stephen O’Donnell in place of Gilbert at the interval, but matters deteriorated within six minutes after more comical defending from the champions.

Both Jansson and Gartland were inexplicably indecisive and from Buckley’s centre, McMahon raced in unopposed to fire into an empty net from close range.

In the 56th minute, Rovers’ cause looked increasingly hopeless as a counter-attack from Ward was abruptly truncated by O’Donnell, who was dismissed by referee Rob Rogers for his troubles. The half meandered from that point with the Hoops struggling to create any chances of note. The contest was effectively settled in the 84th minute as Dinny Corcoran raced clear and although upended by Jansson, the ball fell kindly to fellow substitute Karl Moore who slotted home with ease.

A Twigg effort that cannoned off the upright summed up the visitors’ evening with their misery complete when Moore doubled his tally with a cross-shot that had too much power for Jansson, who fumbled the ball over the line.

BOHEMIANS: McNulty; Heary (Barker, 72), McMillan, Feely, Byrne; Buckley (Corcoran, 81), Mulcahy, Ward, McEvoy, McMahon (Moore, 66); Wilson.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Jansson; Gilbert (O’Donnell, 46), Oman, Gartland, Powell; McCabe, Finn, McCormack (Greene, 80), Dennehy; O’Neill (Turner, 58), Twigg.

Referee: Rob Rogers (Dublin)