The Gypsies rejigged their starting line-up with Owen Heary and Anthony Murphy dropping out for Ken Oman and Mark Rossiter to come in after last week's defeat to St Patrick's Athletic.

 

For Rovers, top scorer Gary Twigg was missing, while Robert Bayly and Sean O'Connor were preferred to Chris Turner and Paddy Kavanagh, who both started on the bench.

 

In what turned out to be a cagey first-half, the two Dublin clubs battled to take control of the game with neither succeeding in dictating the tempo or creating many chances.

 

The visitors were first to ignite a counter attack of note when James Chambers' run into the opposition penalty area ended with his shot being deflected wide for a corner.

 

There were few chances after that until the 35th minute when Bohs striker Mark Quigley tested the alertness of Hoops keeper Alan Mannus with a well-hit shot from close range.

 

Jason Byrne was presented with a great opportunity to break the deadlock just before half-time when a slip from Craig Sives allowed Quigley to feed his strike partner, but he completely screwed his shot wide.

 

After the interval, Bohs attempted to lift the tempo and stormed forward whenever they could in search of that opening goal, but luck was not on our their side.

 

Killian Brennan came close with a hat-trick of chances, but neither his header, overhead kick or shot from distance really troubled Mannus.

 

Rovers finished the game as the stronger side with the introduction of Dessie Baker making a real difference as his side-footed effort was deflected onto the crossbar and he had two other shots blocked.

 

Then right at the end former Hoops keeper Barry Murphy pulled off a fine stop to deny Chris Turner. But Rovers would have been content to pick up an away point.

 

Bohemians: B Murphy; Shelley, Oman, McGuinness, Powell; Rossiter (A Murphy 66), Keegan, Cronin, Brennan; Byrne (Madden 83), Quigley.

 

Substitutes Not Used: O'Connor, Gray, Higgins.

 

Shamrock Rovers: Mannus; Flynn, Murray, Sives, Murphy; O'Connor (Kavanagh 90), Bayly, Rice, Chambers (Baker 72), Dennehy (Turner 61); Stewart.

 

Substitutes Not Used: Duggan, Price.

 

Referee: D McKeon (Dublin)