Gary Twigg kept Shamrock Rovers' title charge on track with a late winner to sink Drogheda United in a thriller at United Park.
But the Hoops almost saw their lead wiped out in the eighth minute of stoppage time as the Boynesiders fought to the very end.
Eric McGill made his debut for the Boynesiders after signing from the Hoops last week, and he was prominent in a bright opening by the home side, with Shane Barrett firing wide after only 50 seconds.
And on seven minutes James Chambers tested keeper Barry Murphy with a 25-yard free kick as the visitors struggled to gain a foothold in the game.
When a chance finally presented itself to Rovers on 24 minutes, Gary Twigg chipped the ball harmlessly wide after Drogs keeper Paul Skinner needlessly ventured from his line.
Rovers' leading striker had another opportunity a minute later from a similar position, but this time Skinner held his ground and Twigg dragged his shot harmlessly across the target.
Murphy, who retained his place in goal following the recent arrival of Alan Mannus from Linfield, showed why with a brilliant parry to deny Jamie Duffy after the striker had been played through by James Chambers, and a minute later Brendan McGill shot disappointingly wide when well placed to pull the trigger.
Rovers improved in the latter stages of the half, and when Skinner flapped at a cross from the left wing, former Drogheda star Shane Robinson pounced but could only hook the ball over the bar from 12 yards.
Nevertheless, Rovers boss Michael O'Neill was clearly unimpressed as he sent his side out for an extra warm-up session during the half-time interval, and when play restarted he replaced Barry Johnston, making his full debut, with the more experienced Stephen Bradley.
Within a minute a Robinson header had Skinner scrambling across his goal, but after an uneventful quarter of an hour it was Drogheda who almost struck when Chambers' long pass picked out Duffy whose low shot had Murphy diving at his near post to keep the ball out.
It was end-to-end football at this stage and Duffy had a shot charged down by Aidan Price, before Twigg ran onto a Bradley pass but scuffed his shot through to Skinner.
And on 71 minutes it was Duffy again who hooked a shot narrowly wide after slack defending in the centre of Rovers' defence.
Rovers centre-half Aidan Price then saw his header pushed onto the post by Skinner, and from the resulting corner he sliced a shot wide, before Craig Sives headed over when unmarked from a Bradley corner.
It was Rovers' best spell of the game, and they made it count on 81 minutes when Ollie Cahill attacked down the left flank and crossed perfectly for Twigg to guide a header beyond Skinner.
Some Rovers fans on the packed away terrace spilled onto the pitch in celebration, causing a five-minute hold-up, and when play resumed a Sives header was knocked off the line by Eric Magill.
But Drogheda nearly grabbed a deserved point in the eighth minute of added time when Chambers cracked a 30-yard free kick off the inside of Murphy's right-hand post.
Drogheda United: Paul Skinner; Ian Ryan (Bates 88), Alan McNally, Conor Kenna, Scott Gibb; Brendan McGill, James Chambers, Eric McGill, Ross Gaynor; Jamie Duffy, Shane Barrett (Robbie Martin 63).
Subs not used: Steve Williams. Booked: Chambers, Gibb.
Shamrock Rovers: Barry Murphy; Pat Sullivan, Craig Sives, Aidan Price, Pat Flynn; Shane Robinson, Stephen Rice, Barry Johnston (Stephen Bradley 46); Gary Twigg (Don Cowan 90), Tadhg Purcell.
Subs not used: Alan Mannus
Referee: Anthony Buttimer (Cork)
