The Irish international muscled the ball from Rovers' Stephen McGuinness inside the visitors' area and cooly slotted home for a deserved win, which sees them rise to second, two points behind Shelbourne.
A scorching shot from Rovers' striker Glen Fitzpatrick, matching the colour of his hair, from a Stephen Grant cross, opened the scoring for Liam Buckley's visitors on the half-hour. Before Damien Lynch's 37th minute right-footed cross saw Rovers' stopper Barry Ryan caught out and he could only watch as the ball dipped under his crossbar for a Bohemians' equaliser. Delighted cries of 'dodgy keeper' rang out across the Phibsboro venue.
The second period saw Bohemians impress and Fergal Harkin almost put them in front with a rising shot which took the paint off the Rovers' bar. A Keith Doyle shot was parried by Hoops' keeper Ryan, who also put Crowe's rebound to safety with a brilliant reaction save.
Referee Alan Kelly waved away two penalty claims waved away, with the best being that of Glen Fitzpatrick who was blatantly tugged back by defender Paul McNally.
And Kelly's decision proved decisive as with the game nearing the 80th minute, Crowe snuck in past the slipping McGuinness to rob Rovers of a point, with a crafty finish under the onrushing Ryan's body.