Dublin City vs Bohs - my ratings

Robbie Horgan: 8
Had surprisingly little to do, bar one brilliant save in the second half. The urgency of his distribution helped set the tone for City's brave performance.

Barry Burke: 7
Never less than game and kept battling to the end. Lack of experience in this position showed through on occasion, but once he gets back into midfield there'll be no stopping him.

Wes Byrne:7
Still not quite the full shilling this season, but battled bravely and never gave Ryan an inch. Some nice footwork and forward surges, too.

Derek Griffin: 9.5
On a night when not even Zidane in full flow would have rivalled Gary O'Neill for man of the match, Derek came remarkably close. Thrust intot he starting XI for the first time this season, Griffin played like a man possessed, clearing his lines time and again, and even managing a brilliant surge into the Bohs half which almost produced a goal. The highest compliment one can pay him is to say that we didn't miss Thomas McGauley on the night.

Ben Whelehan: 9
A massive find, strong as an ox and cunning as a fox. Helped Griffin keep IRELAND INTERNATIONAL GLEN CROWE (read that again just to make sure you appreciate its significance) relatively quiet after his goal. A rock.

Cathal "Cottsy" O'Connor: 8
Never really cut loose in an attacking sense, but had moments and inspiration and instigated many a counter-attack. Dug the trenches and never hid from the ball.

Keith Foy: 9
Just what City have been crying out for, someone to make good use of all those set-pieces. Foy's delivery was brilliant, just high enough to clear the first man and just low enough to give City's pint-sized players a good chance of winning it in the air. Slotted away a pressure kick without a hint of nerves, but what else would one expect of a man who scored in a European Championship final? What a signing.

Paul Crowley: 7.5
Put himself about and helped to break up Bohs' rhythm in midfield.

Jason Colwell: 8
The ex-Hoop will have enjoyed this victory perhaps more than most, and he has every right to after a battling, bubbly performance. Some touches of silk amid the steel.

Terry Gleeson: 6.5
First start in the Premier Division and maybe looked a wee bit off the pace. Came out of top of his duel with Kevin Hunt in the early stages, but faded thereafter (perhaps due to some harsh and unpunished tackling from the visiting midfielders) before being withdrawn.

Gary O'Neill: 10
Just when you begin to suspect that he can't possibly give any more, Gary proves you wrong. His one-man demolition job on the Bohs defence was, one can honestly say without resorting to hyperbole, of international standard. Asked to do the work of two men as a lone striker, Gary does the work of five. How does he compete for the ball with taller, stronger defenders and not only win it, but make it stick and find or beat a man? How did he out-jump Matt Gregg to flick home City's first goal? How does he push his body to the very limits of endurance without affecting his touch, awareness or vision? How? I don't know, but if he keeps it up much longer he'll be the most feared striker in the league. Made one (arguable) error of judgement in the game, going for a shot that wasn't really on instead of squaring to a better-placed Cottsy, but that's as nothing compared to the countless acts of brilliance which peppered this, the finest performance yet seen by a player in City colours. Visibly knackered by the time he was replaced, no-one has ever done more on a football field to earn a standing ovation.

SUBS:

David McGill: 6
A player whom most of us were unaware had signed for the Vikings, McGill didn't do much on his brief debut, apart from almost hit me with a wild cross-field pass. Still, he arrives with a big repuation and we shall all watch his progress with interest.

Philly Hughes: 6
Gave a passable imitation of the great man for the last few minutes, but there's only one Gary O'Neill.

Killian Brennan: 6
Probably just glad to have been part of a famous Viking win, but never really got the chance to strech his legs down the left.