Unfortunately for Bohs, the one real negative is the Dalymount surface. Visibly bobbly at the start of the game, the pitch got worse and worse as the match progressed until eventually, simple 10-yard passes became extremely difficult. That said, the Gypsies midfield duo of Stephen Traynor and Ryan McEvoy were far superior to their Hooped counterparts, and Aaron Callaghan will definitely be the more disappointed manager after this one.

Even when the game was 11 v 11, Bohs were the brighter team. The opening quarter saw a pattern developing with McEvoy and Traynor feeding Karl Moore, who was in flying form. The winger was torturing Rovers captain Pat Sullivan, and put in a few good early crosses that had the visitors’ defence scrambling to clear. Sullivan himself launched a trademark pile-driver that had Dean Delany scrambling, but it flashed just over.

In an extremely niggly affair, Shamrock Rovers were clearly rattled by the pace and high-pressing game exhibited by Callaghan’s men. At the forefront of this quick-footed nippiness were Moore and striker Chris Lyons. The former UCD frontman was causing Jason McGuinness and his central partner Derek Foran all kinds of problems. With 10 minutes to go to half-time, Lyons skipped past Foran who caught him with a crunching lunge. A simple yellow-card decision for referee Neil Doyle. Unfortunately for Lyons, he never recovered from the tackle and was replaced by Shane Murray.

The game seemed to have swung Bohs’ way when Foran received his marching orders just five minutes after getting his first card. This time it was Moore who beat him to the ball. Foran’s reckless tackle was just a split-second late, but still offered Doyle no choice but to flash a second yellow. The lack of complaint from anyone in green and white was the tell-tale sign.

Bohs were well on top before and after the half time whistle. McEvoy and Traynor were particularly impressive. Traynor had what was certainly one of his best games in a Bohs shirt. He exuded a calmness and presence on the ball, and also offered plenty of slaloming runs through his apparently more illustrious midfield opponents in James Chambers and Shane Robinson.

Rovers players seemed to mirror the mood of their unusually subdued fans. While the Tallaght club sold out their allocation, the hundreds gathered in the Des Kelly Stand offered little in terms of atmosphere. The Bohs fans, however were in fine voice, but just couldn’t roar their team on to what would have been a deserved victory.

Chances were few and far between to say the least. The most excitement in the second half was a dipping and swerving Moore shot that had Barry Murphy flapping. The fact that Dave Scully’s booking for an outrageous dive was also a highlight tells the tale of a true Derby stalemate. The result leaves Bohs on four points with a win, a loss, and a draw for Callaghan’s men to start the season. The Dublin Derbies are coming thick and fast – next up for Bohs is a trip to Inchicore to face St Patrick’s Athletic on Saturday.

Bohemians: Dean Delany, Derek Pender, Owen Heary, Roberto Lopes, Luke Byrne, Keith Buckley, Ryan McEvoy, Stephen Traynor, Karl Moore (Darragh Hanaphy, 83), Dave Scully, Chris Lyons (Shane Murray, 37 (Dwayne Wilson, 73) ). Subs not used: Greg Murray, Conor O’Brien, Ciaran Nangle, Michael Barker.

Shamrock Rovers: Barry Murphy, Pat Sullivan, Jason McGuinness, Derek Foran, Conor Powell, Shane Robinson, Stephen Rice, James Chambers (Ciaran Kilduff, 57), Billy Dennehy, Karl Sheppard (Sean O’Connor, 76), Thomas Stewart (David Elebert, 43). Subs not used: Richard Brush, Gary McCabe, Ronan Finn, Conor McCormack.

Attendance: 4,000

Bohs Man of the Match: Stephen Traynor.

(Pic, by Eddie Lennon, shows Karl Moore tackling Rovers’ Pat Sullivan. View more of Eddie’s pics on our Facebook page.

Much like the league opener on Friday, it was a cagey affair early on. Bohemians midfielder Conor O’Brien missed a one-on-one with UCD goalkeeper Mark McGinley,  while Stephen Paisley had a header cleared off the line from another former Gypsy, Gary Burke.

But nine minutes before half-time, the Students drew first blood. The ball ricocheted around the box before Corcoran had the easiest of chances to put the ball past Greg Murray.

The home side responded well though and won a penalty just before the break. A clumsy challenge from Hugh Douglas sent Derek Pender tumbling and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot just before the break. Shane Murray stepped up but McGinley saved the former Sheffield United youngster’s spot-kick and subsequent follow-up.

Aaron Callaghan’s side seemed to have taken the manager’s words on board at the start of the second period and built up a head of steam. But all that momentum was lost as the Students doubled their advantage through Corcoran’s penalty after Roberto Lopes was adjudged to have fouled his former team-mate.

It looked all over but second after the kick-off,  fans’ favourite Scully pulled a goal back for his side and it was game on again.

Lyons and Moore were sprung from the bench as Bohs looked to gather momentum again  - and both of them proved to be inspired changes.

But time looked to be running out for Bohs until Lyons was fouled on the edge of the area in the last minute. Moore stepped up and curled his stunning free-kick into the top corner at the Tramway End.

On a freezing night in Phibsborough, 30 minutes of extra-time and possible penalties beckoned.

Paisley came close yet again at the start of extra-time when his header smashed off the crossbar. And Derek Pender came close too before the deciding moment came.

Referee Derek Tomney pointed to the spot for the third time in the evening as McGinley fouled Paisley.

This time Lyons stepped up, but once again McGinley was equal to the effort. Unlike Murray’s earlier effort, however, Lyons was able to bundle in the rebound to net his second goal against his former club in three days.

UCD pressed for an equaliser but this young Bohs showed great courage and stamina to hold on for victory and get revenge for an extra-time defeat against the same opposition in the Leinster Senior Cup last month.

Next up for the Gypsies is a trip to Turner’s Cross on Friday, before Shamrock Rovers come to Dalymount on Bank Holiday Monday (March 18th, KO2pm).

Bohemians: Greg Murray; Michael Barker, Roberto Lopes, Stephen Paisley, Ciaran Nangle; Dwayne Wilson (Karl Moore 63), Shane Murray, Derek Pender, Conor O’Brien (Chris Lyons 63), Andy Mulligan (Darragh Hanaphy 80); David Scully. Subs not used: Dean Delany, Darragh Reynor, Luke Byrne, Santiago Miguel Falbo

UCD: Mark McGinley; Gareth Matthews, Hugh Douglas, Tomas Boyle (Colm Crowe 106), Mark Langtry; Dean Clarke (Craig Walsh 56), James Kavanagh, Robbie Benson, Samir Belhout (Sean Coyne 78), Gary Burke; Dinny Corcoran. Subs not used: Ger Barron, David McMillan, Tyrone McNelis, Cillian Morrison.

(Picture by A. Baldiemann shows l-r Derek Pender, Roberto Lopes, Darragh Hanaphy, Dave Scully and Shane Murray saluting Karl Moore’s (No 10) late leveller.) View more match pics on our Facebook page!

In a departure from last season’s tactics, Callaghan went for a conventional 4-4-2 formation, with Darragh Hanaphy partnering Chris Lyons in attack. Devaney started the game on the left wing before moving into the forward line with devastating effect in the second half.

After months of anticipation, the first 10 minutes of this clash was not pretty viewing for Bohs fans. Pinned in their own half by the visitors, the Gypsies had to withstand an early flurry of corner-fuelled pressure. Debutant Dean Delany flapped at one such corner, but Lyons thankfully got to the ball before the onrushing Craig Walsh. Bohs eventually grew into the game, with the midfield duo of Ryan McEvoy and Stephen Traynor controlling proceedings for large periods after that shaky opening 10.

Lyons and McEvoy both tried low free-kick drives, but both struck at the feet of the UCD wall. With neither side on top, the game exploded into life in the 20^th minute. Keith Buckley found a sliver of space and clipped a lovely little ball through to Lyons, who seemed to anticipate the oncoming challenge from Mark Langtry. Lyons went down, referee Rob Rogers pointed to the spot and Langtry was on his way to the dressing room. The incident will be an interesting watch on Monday Night Soccer, and it’s very possible visiting boss Martin Russell will feel particularly aggrieved. Either way, Lyons dusted himself down and dispatched the penalty with aplomb – the first goal in the 2013 Airtricity League Premier Division.

Lyons, a former UCD player, made a nuisance of himself all night. He can be extremely pleased with his competitive debut for the Gypsies. Alongside a wonderfully composed and mature showing from Ryan McEvoy, Bohs had two outstanding performances on the night. McEvoy let fly with a rasping 30-yard drive that had pulses racing on the half-hour mark before Devaney struck the post just before half-time. His snapshot had Ger Barron beaten, but struck the outside of the upright.

The home side should really have wrapped up the game just after the break. A poor pass across the defence left Hanaphy almost clear, but he dawdled for too long and allowed Sean Russell to clear for a corner. Just a minute later, Barron’s weak clearance fell straight to Lyons, who stepped inside Hugh Douglas before firing a low shot just wide. Bohs fans could be forgiven for ruing those misses, as UCD equalised soon after.

Ref Rogers awarded the Students a penalty just 10 minutes into the second period. UCD sub Robbie Creevy’s shot was carelessly spilled by Delany, who in his haste to rectify the error, clashed with David McMillan in the box. Arguably another soft decision, but luckily for Bohs, Delany received only a yellow card. McMillan, brother of former Bohs star Evan, sent the ex-Shelbourne keeper the wrong way to even things up.

In response, Callaghan made what turned out to be a decisive substitution. Hanaphy was replaced by Karl Moore who slotted on to the left – pushing Devaney into the centre alongside Lyons. Barely five minutes after coming on, Moore beat Hugh Douglas for pace and stood a tantalising ball to the back post. Lyons jumped with Russell, and the ball broke to Devaney, who coolly smashed home from 10 yards out.

Devaney almost made the points safe with 15 minutes to go. He managed to get himself in the way of a trademark McEvoy strike, but the ball fell kindly and he was able to swivel a shot past Barron. Unfortunately for Devaney, this time it struck the inside of the post and flashed across the goal to safety.

Bar a few set-piece scares, Bohs saw out the final few minutes without much incident. Special mention to Owen Heary playing in the first game of his 21^st and final League of Ireland season. He marshalled the defence from centre-half, and will be delighted along with Callaghan with the valuable opening three points. Next up for Bohs – you guessed it – it’s UCD again in the EA Sports Cup on Monday before an interesting trip to Turner’s Cross next Friday. It’s good to be back!

Bohemians: Dean Delany, Derek Pender, Owen Heary, Roberto Lopes, Luke Byrne, Keith Buckley, Ryan McEvoy, Stephen Traynor (Michael Barker, 71), Kevin Devaney, Darragh Hanaphy (Karl Moore, 60), Chris Lyons (Dave Scully, 88). Subs not used: Greg Murray, Shane Murray, Ciaran Nangle, Stephen Paisley.

UCD: Ger Barron, Tomas Boyle, David O’Connor, Hugh Douglas (Gary Burke, 79), Mark Langtry, Sean Russell, Craig Walsh (Robert Creevy, 56), James Kavanagh, Dean Clarke, Robbie Benson, David McMcMillan. Subs not used:  Mark McGinley, Barry McCabe, Dinny Corcoran, Tyrone McNelis, Samir Belhout.

Attendance: 1,368

Bohs Man of the Match: Ryan McEvoy

(Picture by Eddie Lennon shows Kevin Devaney celebrating his winner with (l-r) Keith Buckley, Chris Lyons, Karl Moore and Stephen Traynor.) View more of Eddie’s pics on our Facebook page!