There are smiles on the faces of the Dalymount Park faithful once again this morning, for the first time in what feels like forever.
Liam Burt’s wonder winner earned Bohemians a first win of the season over Shamrock Rovers and ended their bitter rivals’ quest for a remarkable quadruple of wins this year.
In a time of tragedy at the Phibsborough club, of unrest and disappointing results, Burt’s brilliant strike was just the tonic.
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Bohs, without a manager after Keith Long’s eight-year reign came to an end earlier this week, were undoubtedly deserving of all three points last night.
Rovers rarely looked like maintaining their seven-point cushion over second-placed Derry City. It stands at just four this morning - albeit with a game-in-hand over the Candystripes.
The visiting Hoops were reduced to 10 men moments before Burt’s goal, when former Gypsies midfielder Dylan Watts was red carded.
It was one of a number of flashpoints on a night that began with a rare show of unity between these two sides, as Rovers captain Ronan Finn presented a wreath to the son of Derek ‘Mono’ Monaghan, the Bohs fan and long-serving club volunteer who tragically passed away recently.
It didn’t take long before the applause that greeted that gesture gave way to some more traditional derby sounds and sights.
Green smoke filled the air around the small pocket of away fans in a corner behind Jon McCracken’s goal as flares were lit ahead of kick-off.
As the smoke drifted skyward and the first whistle from referee Rob Hennessy brought the game to life, it was business as usual between both tribes.
Andy Lyons was predictably the target of jeers from the home fans, still smarting from his move last winter across this Dublin divide.
The Rovers support made it clear that they had Lyons’ back with chants and songs of their own in honour of the man who is Blackpool-bound next January.
Lyons saw plenty of the ball early on by the touchline next to the packed Jodi Stand.
But so too did Ali Coote on the right-hand side of the Bohs midfield and Burt inside him.
Burt’s bouncer after four minutes had Rovers keeper Alan Mannus on his toes, as the ball leapt up off the pitch right in front of the former Northern Ireland man.
Mannus also had to gather Coote’s back-post header from Kris Twardek’s 14th minute cross.
And Dan Cleary came to the rescue three minutes later when he cut out Burt’s low centre with Ethon Varian ready to pull the trigger.
Given the upheaval at Bohs this past week - the departure of manager Keith Long after Monday’s defeat to St Pat’s - this was a strong opening by the hosts.
Aaron Greene got his head to Rory Gaffney’s cross and forced McCracken to bat the ball to safety.
Other than that 13th minute effort, all Rovers could muster were a couple of off-target efforts.
Sean Hoare headed Jack Byrne’s free-kick well wide and Dylan Watts played a one-two with the Ireland midfielder before he drilled the ball well wide from the edge of the area.
In terms of quality, this one fizzled like derbies often do and the second-half was 13 minutes old before a shot was registered.
Tyreke Wilson is usually so reliable with his left foot, but on this occasion the Bohs full-back sent the ball high over the bar from 25 yards.
The hosts’ territorial dominance wasn’t translating into clearcut openings, but they were growing with confidence.
The turning point came in the 70th minute when Watts, booked four minutes earlier for a silly tussle with Wilson, received his marching orders.
Referee Rob Hennessy had little option other than to show the Rovers midfielder a second yellow when he chopped down Burt 25 yards from goal.
Two minutes after he picked himself off the turf, Burt was sliding to his knees in celebration.
Twice in that short space of time he saw goalbound shots smash off a Rovers player to safety.
But when he picked the ball up on the edge of the area and side-stepped Byrne, he curled a vicious shot inside the right-hand post and beyond the reach of Hoops ‘keeper Alan Mannus.
Rovers reacted by bringing on Richie Towell for Rory Gaffney, and five minutes later they went back again to their talent-packed bench to introduce Aidomo Emakhu and Neil Farrugia, with Byrne and Ronan Finn making way.
Aside from a Lyons cross-cum-shot that was parried by McCracken, there was little in the way of traffic towards the Phibsborough end and Bohs comfortably saw out the night.
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