Shamrock Rovers recovered well from their midweek Champions League disappointment to record a crucial 1-0 win over a disappointing Bohemians in their Airtricity League Premier Division clash at Dalymount Park on Friday evening.

The league holders made their attacking intentions known inside the opening minute as Ronan Finn made a trademark burst inside the Bohemians’ penalty area but an uncharacteristically heavy touch allowed Barry Murphy to gather with ease.

A misplaced pass from Finn in the 2^nd minute led to lone striker Christy Fagan collecting possession inside the Hoops’ area but lacking support, his ensuing cross-shot lacked conviction and drifted harmlessly wide.

That proved Bohemians’ sole attacking moment of note in a first-half that they played largely on the back foot as Rovers seized the initiative for the duration, attacking at will with Enda Stevens and Billy Dennehy a constant threat down their left wing.

A short corner between Dean Kelly and Dennehy in the 9^th minute allowed the former time and space to pick out Gary Twigg but the Scotsman directed his header from eight yards too close to Murphy who saved comfortably.

Dennehy, despite a fine defensive display from Own Heary, continued to threaten, enjoying a plentiful supply of ball from a dominant midfield with Stephen Rice and Gary McCormack prompting shrewdly from the middle third.

Their efforts should have been rewarded with the opening goal in the 26^th minute when Stevens escaped once again to deliver a sublime ball to the far post but the in-rushing Kelly crashed his header off the crossbar from six yards with Rice lacking sufficient composure as he hammered the rebound high into the Phibsboro night.

The Tallaght side maintained their supremacy until the interval but failed to break the deadlock despite Dennehy going close in injury time as he turned inside Heary with ease before firing straight at Murphy from 16 yards with his weaker right foot.

A similar pattern of Rovers dominance continued after the turnaround with Murphy once again showing fine reflexes to acrobatically tip over a Craig Sives header from McCormack’s free-kick in the 50^th minute.

The breakthrough finally arrived midway through the half in rather fortunate circumstances as both Kelly and Twigg looked to attack a Dennehy corner with the latter’s touch diverting the ball beyond a helpless Murphy from eight yards.

Bohs almost made an instant reply with substitute Aidan Downes escaping down the right-wing and his excellent cross picked out Ger O’Brien who skied harmlessly over the bar from the penalty spot.

Understandably, there was greater attacking intent displayed by the hosts in the final quarter with O’Brien once again the culprit as he headed wastefully over in injury time to compound the frustration of the Bohemians supporters at the final whistle. 

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

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Thompson; Flynn, Sives, Murray, Stevens; Kelly, McCormack, Rice, Finn (O’Neill 75), Dennehy (Moore 87); Twigg (Kilduff 90). 

Referee: Damien Hancock (Dublin).