A classy Matty Smith goal - his third in four games - helped Shelbourne to a double over Cork City in a game of two halves at Tolka Park.
Jack Moylan added a poacher's second as Shelbourne, unbeaten now in five games, move up to fourth in the table, their highest placing since manager Damien Duff took charge at the start of last season.
A third successive defeat means second-bottom Cork, who lost at home to Shelbourne on St Patrick's Day, remain four points from safety in the relegation play-off place.
Cork manager Colin Healy dropped goalkeeper Jimmy Corcoran following last week’s 3-1 home defeat to Derry City with 18-year-old Daniel Moynihan coming in for his debut between the posts.
That was one of three changes for City, with Darragh Crowley starting in midfield and Tunde Owolabi coming in up top for only his second start of the season.
And City came to play, troubling Shelbourne inside two minutes.
A sloppy Paddy Barrett backpass ran for the alert Ruairi Keating but Conor Kearns positioned himself well to parry his effort out for a corner.
With four changes from their draw with Dundalk last week, injury-and-suspension hit Shelbourne gave first starts of the season to David Toure and Jad Hakiki and struggled to impose their game on the visitors.
It was 20 minutes before the home side penetrated the Cork rearguard, a sublime Barrett pass playing Smith in behind. Moynihan got a fingertip to the drive, even if it was going wide, though incredibly no corner was given.
But it was Kearns who remained the busier goalkeeper in the first half with a terrific double save to thwart Cork on 36 minutes.
First the Shels keeper got down smartly to tip away a glancing header by Keating from Darragh Crowley’s fine cross. Ally Gilchrist pounced on the rebound which Kearns parried with his legs before Shels scrambled the ball clear.
Further poor defending saw Cork in again four minutes later. The lively Keating outfoxed Kameron Ledwidge all too easily on the right from Aaron Bolger’s pass. Kearns again kept his goal intact with another superb save, tipping over the City striker’s shot.
Having posed little threat in the first half, Shelbourne were inspired from the restart and were ahead within two minutes.
A brilliant Matty Smith goal that has given Shelbourne the lead against Cork City 👇#LOI | #SHECOR pic.twitter.com/r3V7ouD7uL
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) April 28, 2023
An attack appeared to have broken down, but the ball ran for Smith on the left. The Scot skilfully cut back inside City skipper Cian Coleman to find the far top corner with a stunning finish.
Midfielder Moylan added Shelbourne’s second goal on 82 minutes, pouncing on a mistake by Bolger to run clear and slide the ball past Moynihan.
Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh got what proved Cork’s consolation on 87 minutes, blasting to the net from fellow substitute Cian Murphy’s pass.
Shelbourne: Conor Kearns; Paddy Barrett, Luke Byrne, Cameron Ledwidge; David Toure (John Ross Wilson 57), Evan Caffrey, JJ Lunney, Tyreke Wilson; Jad Hakiki (Brian McManus 78), Jack Moylan (Kyle Robinson 85), Matty Smith.
Cork City: Daniel Moynihan; Cian Coleman, Ally Gilchrist, Josh Honohan; Darragh Crowley, Matt Healy (Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh 78), Aaron Bolger, Barry Coffey, Ethon Varian; Ruairi Keating, Tunde Owolabi (Cian Murphy 64).
Referee: Ray Matthews (Midlands)
