ANDY LYONS and Danny Mandroiu played the pantomime villain roles to perfection as they haunted Bohs at a bouncing Dalymount Park.
More than anyone in the Rovers ranks, they were the pair in the home fans’ line of fire and particularly Lyons after his winter switch to the champions.
But he opened the scoring early before Mandroiu ruthlessly snuffed out any semblance of hope the hosts had of a revival, scoring seconds after Junior’s 68th minute lifeline.
Rovers - who remain a point behind leaders Derry City - lost three times at Dalymount last season - but here they were home and hosed from a long way out.
A Max Murphy own goal aided their cause and the Hoops were 2-0 up and cruising at the break on a night when nothing went right for Bohs.
The Gypsies, with just one home win all season, couldn’t catch a break and their late flourish was just that - too little, too late.
Their luckless night was summed up when half-time substitute Rory Feely was forced off injured just two minutes after coming on.
The start of the game was delayed while officials repaired the goalmouth after a flurry of flares - and other objects thrown at Bohs ‘keeper James Talbot - left their mark.
And matters then threatened to boil over in the away end after a brief scuffle resulted in Gardai ejecting one away supporter.
On the pitch, it was all Rovers once the whistle sounded.
Noticeably fired up, the champions tore into their arch enemies and Talbot had to make a number of saves either side of Lyons’ early opener.
He denied ex-Bohs ace Mandroiu but then ran into heavy traffic when trying to clear a Jack Byrne corner in the fifth minute.
Pico Lopes nearly connected at the near post but the ball fell to Mandroiu who stabbed it forward for Lyons to bundle home.
He has wasted no time endearing himself to the Hoops faithful as that was his fourth goal since the switch.
Again, the restart was delayed as flares rained down. The sheer amount of them smuggled into the Des Kelly stand was quite something.
Talbot didn’t get a moment's peace but prevented Lyons from doubling his own haul minutes later.
He then denied Ronan Finn and Lee Grace, but the recent Ireland call-up was fishing the ball from his net for a second time, ten minutes before the break.
Ireland international Byrne pulled all the strings in a masterclass before tiring, and his cross to the back post was accidentally turned home by Murphy.
Murphy only joined from Rovers this season and the travelling fans rejoiced in the moment. chanting ‘Max Murphy, he’s one of our own’.
Bohs had offered nothing in attack, but gained momentum early in the second-half with Promise Omochere - one of three half-time subs - leading the charge.
But it was strike partner Junior who hauled Bohs back into the game in the 68th minute.
He pounced when Alan Mannus parried Dawson Devoy’s shot - but the Gypsies didn’t get to savour the moment.
Less than a minute later, Mandroiu latched onto a long ball that wasn’t dealt with by Jordan Doherty and he beat Talbot.
One-way traffic and a tough one for Bohs to stomach, but all the more so considering who inflicted the damage.
BOHEMIANS: Talbot; Murphy (Feely 45, Doherty 47), Horton (Packham 45), Kelly, Wilson; Devoy, Levingston (Flores 81); Twardek (Omochere 45), Coote, Burt; Junior
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Mannus; Hoare, Lopes, Grace; Finn (Gannon 74), O’Neill, Towell (Watts 71), Lyons; Byrne (McCann 81), Mandroiu; Gaffney (Greene 71)
Referee: Neil Doyle (Dublin)
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