With just four league games remaining, Shelbourne returned to the top of the Premier Division tonight following a hard fought 1-0 win over Bohemians at Dalymount Park.
Pat Fenlon's men entered the game a point behind the champions but came away from Phibsboro with a two point championship lead following Stuart Byrne's first half goal.
Striker Jason Byrne centred a hopeful ball after 17 minutes which Bohemians defender Colin Hawkins should have cleared but for slipping on the greasy surface. His error allowed midfielder Byrne collect and calmly slot pass the helpless Shay Kelly.
Both Kelly and his Shelbourne counterpart Steve Williams excelled throughout and the visiting keeper needing to be at his athletic best to keep out a deflected shot off his own defender Jamie Harris moments after the goal.
Seconds before that incident, Shelbourne captain Owen Heary found himself in the right place at the right time to clear a Bobby Ryan effort off the line.
Republic of Ireland international Glen Crowe proved a thorn in the visitors defence for the duration and saw one particular effort brilliantly batted away by Williams after the break.
For all their penetration in the second period, provided by-and-large with the introduction of Mark Rutherford, Bohemians could find no way past a resolute Shelbourne defence and saw their luck run out despite strong pressure in the dying stages.
Elsewhere, Cork City recorded a valuable 1-0 victory over struggling Derry to open a gap in the race for third spot over St. Patrick's Athletic who lost to Longford.
Irish under-20 star Kevin Doyle bagged the all important goal at Turners Cross to sink Derry who go bottom of the table following UCD's 2-1 win over Drogheda at Belfield.
Gavin Whelan and Robbie Griffin were the Belfield heroes with goals either side of Mark Quinless' 25th minute strike.
At Flancare Park, Byrne bagged a brace to sink St. Patrick's while Vinnie Sullivan cancelled out Glen Fitzpatrick's early strike to give Waterford United a 1-1 draw against Shamrock Rovers.