Shelbourne ... 2 Galway Utd ... 0  Shelbourne moved four points clear of nearest rivals, St Patrick's Athletic at the top of the Premier Division Table when goals in each half from strikers, Brian Byrne and Stephen Geoghegan gave them victory over Galway United at Tolka Park.

This latest Galway setback means that the westerners are relegated to the First Division next season after three years in the top flight.

Shelbourne have now just three games remaining, two of them at Tolka against Shamrock Rovers and UCD with the final fixture away to neighbours, Bohemians.

It still promises to be a title race right down to the wire as St Patrick's have two matches in hand and victory in their final five games would see them crowned champions.

With manager, Dermot Keely back in the dugout after a four-month absence, Shelbourne were all out to impress. But they scarcely looked like champions elect early on when central defender, Barry Prenderville headed wide after a long range free by Jonathan Minnock.

Byrne grabbed the opening goal on 25 minutes when he was quickest to react to a block from Galway goalkeeper Robert Forde and shot to the corner of the net from six yards.

Substitute, Jim Gannon, on the field for just two minutes as a replacement for Jim Crawford, almost grabbed Shelbourne's second goal when accepting a cross from Richie Baker. However, his effort was blocked on the line by Billy Clery and Geoghegan was quickest to react - calmly stroking the ball home from six yards for a deserved victory.

SHELBOURNE: Williams; Heary, Prenderville, McCarthy, Minnock; R Baker, Hutton, Crawford, Fenlon; B Byrne, Geoghegan. Sub: Gannon for Crawford 72 mins

GALWAY UNITED: R Forde; Keady, Silke, Clery, Sheridan; A Forde, Herrick, Fortune, O'Brien; Brennan, Murphy. Subs: Malee for O'Brien 53 mins, Miller for A Forde 84 mins.

Referee: John Stacey (Athlone)