Bohemians 2 Shelbourne 1: "J€ALOU$?" read the gloating banner displayed by Shelbourne fans during the brief spell their team led Bohemians at Dalymount Park last night.

By the end of the night, however, bragging rights belonged exclusively to the supporters on the other side of the ground.

Bohemians may have lost some of last year's stars to, as they see it, the promise of money and medals but there is certainly no lack of passion or pride amongst the players who remain and both were evident in abundance here as the hosts comfortably outplayed the champions and, thanks to goals from Gareth Farrelly and Ken Oman, recorded their third successive win.

The home side may have made the bulk of the early running but it was their visitors who opened the scoring with just over a quarter of an hour played when Joseph Ndo set up Alan Moore whose turn and curling shot into the top corner were both wonderful.

If the goal came as a significant setback to the hosts, Shelbourne were to suffer one of their own 51 minutes later when David Crawley and Ollie Cahill, to the obvious delight of most of those in Dalymount's main stand, attempted to head the same ball clear with predictable results.

Cahill departed immediately, to be replaced by Glen Fitzpatrick, but an attempt was made to patch the left back up during which the league leaders struggled on with 10 players.

Having gone close to scoring on a couple of occasions already, Bohemians now took full advantage of Shelbourne's misfortune with two quick goals, the first a sweet piece of finishing by the player manager Farrelly from the edge of the area and the second a powerful drive by Ken Oman from a similar position after Dominic Foley's initial header had been kept out by Williams with his feet.

In an attempt to steady the ship in the few minutes leading up to the break, Shelbourne were forced to bring on Jim Crawford and reorganise once again.

The changes helped but even then they must have been relieved to get off the pitch at half time only one goal behind.

To take something out of the game, however, Shelbourne were going to have to seriously alter its balance and there were few signs through the opening stages of the second period that they were going to be capable of upsetting the home side's rhythm.

In every area of the pitch it was the home side that looked the more comfortable but it was through the centre that they really dominated with Farrelly and Kevin Hunt enjoying a particularly good night together.

Jason Byrne fluffed the best chance of the night with more than a half an hour remaining when he sent a wild shot high and wide from no more than 15 yards out but it was consistently the home side that looked to be in the stronger position to wrap things up with Foley going closest midway through the half.

The visitors then brought on Glen Crowe, prompting renewed taunts from the crowd who had largely tired of booing Bobby Ryan, but on a night when the visitors were clearly second best the change made no difference and it was John Paul Kelly who went closest to getting a goal for the home side late on with a spectacular shot from an almost ridiculous angle that came crashing back off the post.

Bohemians: Gregg; Rice, Oman, Byrne, Keddy; Kelly, Hunt, Farrelly, Ward; Grant, Foley.

Shelbourne: Williams; Heary, Harris, Rogers, Crawley (Crawford, 43 mins); Ryan, Ndo (Crowe, 76 mins), S Byrne, Cahill (Fitzpatrick, 35 mins); J Byrne, Moore.

Referee: A Kelly (Cork).