Finn Harps moved out of the bottom three in the eircom Premier Division table following this crucial win over second from bottom Cobh Ramblers at St Colman's Park.
The visitors scored through a tap in from Chris Breen after 21 minutes and then Stephen Parkhouse belted home an effort from 25 yards to put Harps two up.
A Kevin Murray penalty just on the break brought the home side back into the game until Parkhouse wrapped up the points scoring from close range with seven minutes remaining.
This was the first fixture in the second round of league games with a repeat of the opening night of the season when Finn Harps defeated Cobh at Ballybofey.
Cobh, who had not scored in their previous five league matches, had a great chance to open the scoring after 16 minutes when captain Alan Carey found Gareth Cambridge with a fine pass but the young forward was denied by one handed save from goalkeeper Gavin Cullen.
Finn Harps, who had gone two months without a victory, jumped in front on 21 minutes when a corner kick from Shaun Williams was touched home at the far post by Chris Breen.
The Donegal men stretched their lead ten minutes before the break when a 25-yard shot from Stephen Parkhouse found the bottom corner of Anthony Fennelly's net.
A penalty just before the half-time brought Ramblers back into the match.
Brian McCarthy, on loan from Bohemians, was brought down in the area by Shaun McGowan and referee Derek Tomney had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
Cobh had missed penalties in their last two home games, but this time Kevin Murray place the ball to the bottom corner of the net for his fourth goal of the campaign.
A lively second-half saw Harps centre back Declan Boyle rattling the crossbar with a powerful header following a corner kick just after the hour.
Ramblers should have equalised twice when Michael Mulconry headed over from six yards and Cullen making a brilliant save to deny Graham Cummins.
But Harps clinched the points with seven minutes remaining as Marc Makundi set up Parkhouse for a tap in from six yards to seal the three points.
Cobh Ramblers: Fennelly; Carey, McCarthy, Murray, Coleman; Cambridge, Kearney, Cummins, Mulconry; O'Neill, O'Reilly.
Substitutes; Long for Mulconry 86 mins.
Finn Harps: Cullen; Mukendi, Holmes, Boyle, Malcolm, Shields, Breen, McGowan, Parkhouse, Gethins, Williams.
Subs; Funston fo Breen 66 mins.
Referee: Derek Tomney (Dublin).
