Shelbourne ... 2 Cork City ... 1: A dramatic 87th minute winnner from striker Stephen Geoghegan earned Shelbourne the points and condemned FAI Cup semi-finalists Cork City to a third successive defeat in last night's tightly fought encounter at Tolka Park.

It was a relief for Geoghegan who had squandered a number of early chances and moves his club up to third place in the table.

Shelbourne made all the early running. An Ollie Cahill corner was headed back across the face of goal only for Geoghegan to shoot over the top.

Cork gradually weathered the storm and in their first real attack of any substance George O'Callaghan had a 30 yard free pushed round the post by keeper Steve Williams.

Then a neat interchange between O'Callaghan and winger Billy Woods set up the chance for John O'Flynn whose final effort was just over the top.

But O'Flynn made amends a minute before the interval with his 13th goal of the season.

A long clearance by keeper Devine found Woods on the left . His perfectly flighted cross over the head of Jim Gannon found O'Flynn in the clear.

Showing excellent control the former Peterborough United man made no mistake, shooting past the advancing Williams.

Former Cork player Cahill was instrumental in setting up Shelbourne's equaliser on 58 minutes when his inswinging corner on the right was headed home at the far post by the diving Gannon in a crowded goalmouth.

It was heartbreak for Cork and celebrations for Shels when Geoghegan snatched that dramatic winner with just three minutes remaining when firing home through a crowded goalmouth, from close range, after a downward header by Prenderville.

Even then Cork might have had an equaliser in added time when late substitute Colin P O'Brien fired over the top.

SHELBOURNE: Wiliams; Heary, McCarthy, Gannon, Crawley; Houlihan, D Byrne, S Byrne, Cahill; Geoghegan, Roberts. Subs.- Prenderville for McCarthy (8 mins.), R Baker for Cahill (71 mins.). Doherty for Gannon (85 mins.).

CORK CITY: Devine; Carey, Daly, Bennett, O'Halloran; CT O'Brien; Reynolds, O'Grady, Woods; O'Flynn, O'Callaghan. Subs: Mulconry for CT O'Brien (75 mins.), Mulligan for O'Flynn (85 mins), CP O'Brien for Reynolds (90 mins.).

Referee: John Feighery (Dublin).