Bohemians 2 Linfield 1
Raffaele Cretaro’s late winner gives Bohemians the advantage ahead of the second leg of the Setanta Sports Cup semi-final at Windsor Park on April 19 as Linfield finished with 10 men at Dalymount.
Substitute Gary Burke punished an 86th minute defensive lapse to play Cretaro in on goal and the little striker, guilty of several earlier misses, clipped the ball over keeper Stuart Addis.
Jason Byrne was deprived a third goal for Bohs two minutes into added time when his half volley from skipper Owen Heary's cross came back off the butt of a post.
Three early Bohs corners yielded nothing as they found themselves behind on 16 minutes.
Damien Curran swept the ball out wide right and Brian McCaul’s cross was headed home by Mark McAllister.
Bohs drew level from their sixth corner of the half on 42 minutes. Another Paul Keegan delivery to the near post finally brought a dividend as central defender Ken Oman powered his header to the net.
Linfield will be without midfielder Marcus Kane for the second leg after he was sent off for a second booking for a foul on Killian Brennan on 67 minutes.