NL Premier Division - Dundalk 1 Shelbourne 2: Dundalk committed football suicide to gift Shelbourne a passage back to the top of the Premier Division table as 18-year-old Wesley Houlihan scored twice to leave the home side staring relegation in the face.

Having battled away gamely throughout the 90 minutes, Dundalk, on the balance of play, deserved something in their desperate fight to avoid a prompt return to the first division.

But poor marking and a dreadful howler by goalkeeper John Connolly threw the game away and means they have now managed just one win in nine league games. Six points adrift of the play-off spot with eight matches to go, Martin Murray's side are in for a very testing couple of months.

The opening goal was well made by Shelbourne with Richie Baker feeding Martin Gritton down the right. The big striker held off a defender to get to the end-line and pull the ball back for Houlihan to side-foot to the net.

Dundalk almost levelled six minutes later when James Keddy touched a free-kick to Donal Broughan whose 25-yard shot was brilliantly touched on to the bar by Steve Williams.

But Dundalk shot themselves in the foot on 67 minutes to give away a very soft second goal. Broughan's back pass didn't appear to pose a threat as John Connolly steadied himself to clear.

But, crucially, the keeper waited for the ball to come across his body on to his preferred right foot unaware of Houlihan's presence. Houlihan tapped the ball past him and shot into the net.

Dundalk made a fight of it when getting a goal back 11 minutes from time as Shelbourne were reduced to 10 men. Kevin Doherty tripped substitute Cormac Malone as he ran through on goal. Doherty was sent off and Broughan scored from the penalty spot.

"The two goals we gave away were criminal," said a clearly upset Murray. "They are a good side but I felt we battled away with them. There was very little between us. But if you give away two goals like that you are going to get beaten. They were shocking goals. We deserved something from the game the way we worked, but not when you defend the way we did for the goals."

DUNDALK: J Connolly; Hoey, Broughan, McGuinness, S Connolly; Kavanagh (Dunne 85), Flanagan, Lawless, Keddy (McArdle 76); Reilly (Malone 73), Haylock.

SHELBOURNE: Williams; Hutton, Doherty, McCarthy, Heary; R Baker, Gannon, Crawford, Fenlon, Houlihan (Minnock 85); Gritton (B Byrne 88).

Referee: J Feighery (Dublin).