Jason Byrne helped himself to a first half brace as Shelbourne went top of the Premier Division table on goal difference after a 3-0 victory over Dublin rivals St Patrick's Athletic.
The game marked the return of defender, Colm Foley, who was back for Pat's for the first time in almost a year having suffered ligament damage in his knee.
And from the off, Shelbourne went on the offensive with an audacious chip from Bobby Ryan on nine minutes forcing Barry Ryan to tip over for a corner.
Pat's in their only real chance of the half came close on the quarter hour but following a ball played in by defender, John Frost, centre half, Darragh Maguire could only blast over from 15 yards out.
Shelbourne came desperately close to breaking the deadlock on 27 minutes with Glen Crowe hitting the woodwork after Ryan had initially saved from Byrne.
But Shelbourne's persistence finally paid off when Byrne, having been released by Bobby Ryan down the right, lobbed the advancing Ryan with an perfectly struck shot on 31 minutes.
And then in the 36th minute a ball through the middle from Ryan released Crowe for a one-on-one with the keeper.
Crowe's first touch however let him down with Barry Ryan standing his ground to deny the former Eircom league's leading striker from inside the box.
But Shelbourne then struck a vital blow before the break when Crowe fed Byrne who just got in ahead of the keeper to stab the ball home for his second of the night.
Shelbourne didn’t let up after the break with Ryan saving from close range to deny Crowe on 51 minutes. Sean O'Connor came close to reducing the deficit on 73 minutes, his ambitious bicycle kick just falling a few inches wide of the post.
Shelbourne then put the game beyond their opponents reach when Crowe connected with a Cahill cross with a quarter of an hour remaining.
