Rovers hit three past Bohs

Shamrock Rovers 3 Bohemians 0

Gary Twigg proved 10-man Shamrock Rovers’ talisman once again with a brilliant goal as champions Bohemians were humbled at Tallaght Stadium.

Rovers have now won all three games against their arch-rivals in Tallaght with this victory moving them back joint-top of the table as they chase a first title in 16 years.

Both sides hit the woodwork in an intriguing, if fitful, first half. But it was Rovers who trooped off a goal to the good at the interval.

The Bohs bar was first to be rattled by a superbly struck Stephen Bradley free-kick after just four minutes.

Rovers enjoyed the better of the early exchanges and deservedly took the lead 20 minutes later when skipper and central defender Dan Murray swept home Tommy Stewart’s low cross from the left.

Bohs came right back into it before the break and Killian Brennan saw his cross come back off Alan Mannus’s crossbar before the Rovers’ keeper did well to get down and hold a stinging strike from Mark Quigley.

Aidan Price headed a James Chambers free-kick off the Bohs bar early in the second half before Hoops’ right-back Pat Flynn’s stupid kick on Gareth McGlynn, for which he was rightly sent off on 57 minutes, should have given Bohs a lifeline.

But six minutes later Twigg struck to seal Rovers win. Latching onto Price’s ball down the left, the Scot flicked the ball over ken Oman twice before rifling to the corner of the net despite Barry Murphy getting a hand to the ball.

It was Twigg's fourth goal in successive games and ninth of the season.

Bohs threw everything at Rovers for the remainder with Paddy Madden heading against the bar from Brennan’s corner.

But Rovers struck for a third goal on the counterattack on 84 minutes when substitute Billy Dennehy turned the Bohs defence inside out before shooting past Murphy.