Karl Sheppard bagged an 89th-minute winner as Shamrock Rovers went top of the Airtricity League Premier Division by beating Bray Wanderers in the Carlisle Grounds.
Sheppard won possession and then raced into the box to get on the end of Ciaran Kilduff’s cross to power a ten-yard header to the net.
The victory at the Carlisle Grounds moved the Hoops a point above title rivals Sligo Rovers with a game in hand ahead of Thursday’s crucial clash with Derry City in Tallaght.
Sheppard had given Rovers a seventh minute lead. But Gary Dempsey equalised in the 64th minute for Bray off a free-kick.
From their last outing against Bohs, the Hoops made two changes with Chris Turner back in midfield instead of Stephen O‘Donnell. Sheppard replaced Gary O’Neill in attack.
Both were involved in the opener which arrived in the seventh minute. Pat Sullivan held off two Bray players to whip in a cross form the right end-line.
It dropped deep at the back post where Turner’s powerful header was touched onto the cross-bar by Darren Quigley.
But Sheppard reacted to stoop and score off the rebound with a close-range diving header.
With the swirling wind playing havoc with the flight of the ball, chances until the interval were at a premium.
The visitors went close again in the 35th minute when ex-Seagull Gary McCabe clipped in a cross from the right flank. And Gary Twigg ghosted in to power an eight-yard header just over the bar.
Wanderers mustered very little in attack.
The only real opportunity they created came in first-half stoppage time when Richard Brush easily dealt with Danny O’Connor’s header off a Gary Dempsey through ball.
Rovers started the second period well with Jim Patterson and McCabe linking well along the left channel to set up Billy Dennehy whose first-time curling effort from 20-yards drifted past the far post.
It had looked as if Wanderers would salvage a point, having already beaten the Dubliner’s twice this season.
Having not threatened Richard Brush's goal inside the opening hour, the Wicklow side were awarded a 64th-minute free after Dean Zambra was brought down along the left touchline midway inside the Rovers half.
Gary Dempsey swung in the dead-ball, which evaded everyone in a crowded penalty area and nestled in the far corner of the net.
It sparked the Seasiders into life as just seconds later, Zambra’s trickery on the right flank saw the ball cleared only to the waiting Danny O’Connor. But his goal-bound drive from 15 yards was charged down.
Former Bray man Gary McCabe almost came back to haunt his former club.
He pounced on a mis-placed pass by John Mulroy and teed himself up to hit a 30-yard dipping volley that crashed back off the inside of the upright and was cleared to safety by the covering Dave Webster.
It seemed Bray were going to hold the champions until Sheppard’s late strike, and that means the Hoops can retain their crown with wins over Derry City and UCD.
Bray Wanderers: Darren Quigley; Daire Doyle, Shane O’Connor (Kevin Knight 70 mins), Chris Shields (Dave Webster 35 mins), Dane Massey; Gary Dempsey; Dean Zambra, Danny O’Connor, Marty Waters; John Mulroy, Conor Murphy (Gary Shaw half time).
Subs not used: Graham Kelly, Shane O’Neill, Danny McGuinness, Brian Kane.
Shamrock Rovers: Richard Brush; Pat Sullivan, Craig Sives, Dan Murray, Jim Patterson; Gary McCabe (Ciaran Kilduff 81 mins), Ronan Finn, Chris Turner (Stephen Rice 90 mins), Billy Dennehy (Rohan Ricketts 71 mins); Gary Twigg, Karl Sheppard.
Subs not used: Stephen O’Donnell, Ken Oman, Conor McCormack, Ryan Thompson
Referee: Dave McKeon (Dublin).
