It is advantage Bohemians after the first leg of their Setanta Sports Cup first round tie against Portadown on Monday.
The League of Ireland side overcame their northern counterparts 2-1 at Dalymount Park with Dinny Corcoran putting the home side in front just before half time with Karl Moore adding a second on 57 minutes.
Kevin Braniff hit back for Portadown on the hour mark but it was the home side who were left celebrating with the second leg set for next Monday.
Aaron Callaghan handed debuts to seven players and the home side looked confident throughout the early exchanges but they were forced to wait until the 44th minute for their first goal of the evening.
Craig Sexton sent his clearance long and it bounced perfectly for the waiting Corcoran, who got the better of goalkeeper David Miskelly with a superb right-footed lob.
Bohs thoroughly deserved to double their lead on 58 minutes when Moore stepped to slam a brilliant left-footed drive into the top of the next.
Portadown altered their shape in the hope of getting back into the match and they were rewarded just two minutes later when Braniff got on the end of Jamie Tomelty's corner to head home.
Braniff had the opportunity to level things in the 78th minute but Sexton was up to the task and pushed his free-kick wide.
In the night's other match, St Patrick's Athletic will have to come from a goal down if they are to have any chance of progressing to the second round.
St Pat's went down 1-0 to Cliftonville with Liam Boyce's second-half strike proving the difference between the two sides.
Boyce had struck the woodwork before Joe Gormley was twice denied by Brendan Clarke but Cliftonville got their just desserts in the 48th minutes when Boyce managed to round the back of the wall and fire home.
St Pat's pressed for an equaliser but their efforts were in vain as Cliftonville proved up to the task.