Fortress Tallaght maintained its stranglehold over Bohemians last night as Shamrock Rovers deservedly took the bragging rights in the derby.

Karl Sheppard may not have known much about it, but his header at the end of the first half was the difference against the Gypsies who had Aidan Price sent off just after the interval.

Their chances of a revival took a real hit, but Alan Mannus still had to intervene on a number of occasions to deny Christy Fagan.

But the hosts were well worth their win, which restores some pride after Thursday’s poor display in defeat to Bray Wanderers.

The game was a slow burner to begin with and other than a header from Aidan Price that was deflected over Alan Mannus’s goal, chances were few and far between.

Glenn Cronin and Chris Turner picked up a booking each as the exchanges were full-blooded, but the football was far from free-flowing.

Ronan Finn again looked the Rovers dangerman and he had an effort saved by Chris O’Connor, while Killian Brennan couldn’t trouble Mannus with a long range effort that flew wide.

Michael O’Neill’s men started to get a foothold in midfield and after Pat Sullivan’s rising drive just cleared the away crossbar, they looked the more likely to take the lead.

Liam Burns had to nick the ball away from the foot of Gary Twigg, before a rare foray into the opposition half for Bohs saw Anto Flood – operating on the right side of midfield – turn Enda Stevens and flash a shot across the goal.

But it was the champions who made their pressure and possession tell by opening the scoring on 41 minutes.

Ger O’Brien badly misjudged the flight of Gary McCabe’s inviting cross, and although he made contact with the back of his head, Karl Sheppard guided the ball across O’Connor and into the back of the net.

The home faithful went delirious, but their charges went for the jugular and were unlucky not to go in two up at the break.

Ken Oman got on the end of a deep Stephen O’Donnell corner but his header went wide, before Finn charged into the box but his shot was well covered by O’Connor as Bohs survived into half time.

McCabe fired over after good play from Twigg and the Gypsies’ task got all the harder six minutes after the break as Price saw red.

The defender got the wrong side of Twigg and pulled his former teammate back as he attempted to lift the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper, leaving Alan Kelly with little choice but to opt for the red card.

Turner took the free short to Finn who sent a drive just over, but with Brennan tucking into the left back position, the visitors improved with ten men.

They were living off scraps, but they had chances to get back on par.

Turner was caught in possession and a beautiful Stephen Traynor pass released Robert Bayly. He squared the ball to Christy Fagan who was clear through, but his heavy touch was seized on by Mannus who snuffed out the danger.

Twigg almost got on the end of a Sheppard ball, but it was at the other end where the goal looked more likely and Brennan sent a free over the bar after Oman picked up a yellow card for a foul on Fagan.

Mannus denied a Fagan shot, but as the clocked ticked on it the Hoops regained full control.

O’Connor produced a brilliant double save to deny McCabe and Craig Sives, before Twigg thought he was in from a Gary O’Neill ball – only for Owen Heary to make a stunning last ditch tackle to deny the Scottish striker.

The northsiders pushed but with a man less their efforts were in vain as the Hoops held on comfortably.

SHAMROCK ROVERS – Mannus; Sullivan, Sives, Oman, Stevens; McCabe, O’Donnell (O’Neill 68), Turner (McCormack 85), Finn, Sheppard (Dennehy 74); Twigg.

BOHEMIANS – O’Connor; Heary, Burns (Feely 87), Price, O’Brien; Bayly (Buckley 83), Cronin; Flood (Dixon 83), Traynor, Brennan; Fagan.

REFEREE – A Kelly (Cork)