Derry City super sub, Stephen O'Flynn, ended Shelbourne's championship challenge at the Brandywell following a dramatic 92nd minute winner.
And it was ironic that O'Flynn, a County Cork man, would net that late, late strike when the vast majority of the 5,000 attendance had more or less settled for a share of the spoils.
Indeed, the only beneficiary from that result would have been Cork City, O'Flynn's former club.
The home side got off to the perfect start when they opened the scoring after just two minutes as Mark Farren drove the ball home.
But Shels' equalised in the 57th minute when substitute, Glen Crowe headed Bobby Ryan's free home from eight yards.
However, that sensational finish will long be remembered with Derry and Cork now expected to form the two horse race for the title.
Derry City:
Forde; Deery, Hutton, Delaney, Hargan; McCourt (O'Flynn, 75 mins), Martyn, Molloy, Brennan (McGlynn, 69 mins); Farren (Murphy, 83 mins), Beckett.
Shelbourne:
Delaney; Heary, Rogers, Hawkins, Cahill; Ryan (Fitzpatrick, 87 mins), Crawford, Reynolds (Crowe, 51 mins), Hoolahan (Baker, 51 mins); Ndo, Byrne.
