The method in Shamrock Rovers' perceived madness for switching this match - their home game - to Tolka Park was vindicated in every way yesterday, bar the scoreline.
A cracking match on a wider pitch was played before a crowd of around 5,000, four times the number that would probably have attended Morton Stadium.
The result could have gone either way, but went against Damien Richardson's side as Shelbourne showed their resolve to come from behind and restore their six points leadership of the table with a stunning brace of goals from Richie Baker.
Supposedly yet to hit top form, the champions could secure the retention of the title long before this league runs its course. On a bitterly cold evening, full credit must go to Rovers whose enterprising approach warmed up the game from the kick-off and, as if to script, they were deservedly in front after just nine minutes.
The Shelbourne defence, minus the stabilising influence of their suspended captain Pat Scully, looked unsteady from the start and failed to clear a ball into their area which resulted in a corner won by Shane Robinson.
Robinson, making only his third start of the campaign in the engine room of the Rovers midfield in the absence of Jason Colwell, maintained his telling start to the game by flighting the corner to the far post.
Tony Cousins outjumped Owen Heary to head perhaps the easiest of his four goals since his return from injury a month ago. Surprisingly unsettled by Rovers' positive beginning, Shelbourne only gradually came into the match.
Almost single-handedly, it was the energy of Richie Baker which dragged the champions back into a terrific contest. The younger Baker won a free-kick which he took himself to test Robbie Horgan before using his speed to set up his brother, but Dessie sent a powerful right-foot drive a foot wide.
A needless corner, given away by Billy Woods, presented Shelbourne with the opportunity to get back into the game on 26 minutes. Mark Hutchison whipped the ball over and Richie Baker timed his run and jump to perfection to flick the ball home with his head.
Within a minute, Shelbourne might have completed their striking fight-back as Jim Crawford held his head in his hands as his dipping volley from 25 yards was inches over the now under-siege Rovers' goal.
Rovers' Brian Byrne shot well wide when he should have got the ball on target, while a mistake by Tony McCarthy, who took his eye off the ball, needed the timely intervention of Steve Williams who bravely dived at the feet of Tony Grant as the striker seemed sure to put Rovers back in front on 36 minutes.
Grant's pace was a permanent threat to Shelbourne and he turned McCarthy superbly to set up a glorious chance within eight minutes of the restart. But Cousins appeared unaware of Pascal Vaudequin's presence behind him and stretched to miscue the ball straight to Williams.
The game died for a short period before it was re-ignited by Stephen Geoghegan, who put Shelbourne into the lead on 63 minutes. An innocuous low ball in from the right by Crawford nonetheless forced a slip from Gareth Cronin and Geoghegan's predatory instinct prevailed as he slid in to force the ball past Horgan.
Richie Baker then put a somewhat flattering tint to the scoreline with a sublime third goal for Shelbourne in injury-time, racing clear down the right to deceive Horgan with a dipping shot into the far right corner of his net.
Shamrock Rovers: Horgan; Smith, Palmer, Cronin, Woods; Vaudequin, Tracey, Robinson, Byrne; Grant, Cousins. Subs: Francis for Vaudequin (81 mins), Deans and Dunne for Byrne and Tracey (both 88 mins).
Shelbourne: Williams; Heary, McCarthy, John, D Geoghegan; R Baker, Doolin, Crawford, Hutchison; D Baker, S Geoghegan. Subs: Keddy for Hutchison (59 mins), Sheridan for S Geoghegan (88 mins), Byrne for Crawlford (90 mins).
Referee: J McDermott (Dublin).
