Shelbourne ground out a deserved 2-1 win over a resilient but ultimately limited Monaghan United side at Tolka Park.
Paddy Kavanagh’s 61st minute goal cancelled out Willo McDonagh’s earlier penalty before David Cassidy completed the comeback with a deft lob 20 minutes from time.
The result means Shels are in fifth place while Monaghan remain rooted to the foot of the table with just one win from the first ten games of the season.
The hosts looked the more threatening from the off and struck the bar twice inside the opening two minutes. First it was captain David Cassidy who was denied by a combination of goalkeeper Michael Schlingermann and the woodwork.
Less than a minute later Philly Hughes’ effort was hacked off the line by Conor McMahon after Philip Gorman’s header cannoned off the bar. Referee Graham Kelly waved away Hughes’ pleas that it had crossed the line.
Shelbourne dominated in terms of possession but will be disappointed they didn’t create more clear goalscoring chances. The impressive Paddy Kavanagh was the next to go close for Shels but once again was Schlingermann was in the way.
Monaghan had little to offer in terms of chances down the other end and were reduced to speculative long-range efforts.
On 43 minutes Cassidy made it unlucky number three when his header came back off the crossbar with goalkeeper well beaten.
After the restart, Monaghan looked the brighter side. Robert Bayly was brought on at the break for the visitors and his introduction briefly transformed the side. Unlike Shelbourne, Mons took advantage of their dominance and when Sean Byrne brought down Jordan Keegan in the box, forward McDonagh rifled home from the spot.
Shels, having controlled for so long, now had to chase the game. To their credit they stuck to the task and pulled one back on 61 minutes when Paddy Kavanagh got on the end of a deflected shot by Cassidy.
Ten minutes later and the comeback was complete. Philip Gorman flicked on for Cassidy who controlled expertly before lobbing over the stranded Schlingermann.
The hosts continued to play the best football for the remainder and were miraculously denied a third four minutes from time when Mons’ substitute Darragh Reynor cleared magnificently off the line from Philly Hughes point blank effort.
Shelbourne: Dean Delany, Gareth Matthews, Brian Shortall, Andy Boyle, Sean Byrne; Glen Cronin, Patrick Kavanagh, David Cassidy (Kevin Dawson, 89), Anto Murphy (Sullivan, 86), Philip Gorman, Philip Hughes
Monaghan United: Michael Schlingermann, Sean Maher, Aidan Collins, Conor McMahon, Paul Whelan (Darragh Reynor, 21), Danny McGuinness (Robert Bayly, 45), Jordan Keegan, Bobby Ryan (Humphrey, 76), Stephen Maher, Conor Murphy, Willo McDonagh
Referee: Graham Kelly
