A terrific early goal from Will Jarvis gave Shelbourne a first victory over Dundalk in 11 years to reignite their European aspirations.
The win moves Damien Duff's side back above Bohemians into fourth place, if with a game more played.
It was no more than Shelbourne deserved for a dominant first-half display.
And though Dundalk enjoyed plenty of the ball in the second half, they failed to trouble the home defence as they remain in sixth place in the table.
With Shelbourne manager Duff watching from the sidelines following a one-match suspension for comments regarding the referee after last week's defeat at Shamrock Rovers, his players gave him plenty of early cheer with a cracking goal after just four minutes.
JJ Lunney’s ball from the back found Jack Moylan who spun Darren Brownlie brilliantly, leaving the Dundalk defender floundering.
Moylan raced forward to play a sublime ball across the area for winger Jarvis. The Hull City loanee was calmness personified as he cut past goalkeeper Nathan Shepperd before rifling a left-foot shot to the top corner of the net.
The Will Jarvis strike that has given Shels an early lead over Dundalk 👇
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) October 6, 2023
Great work by Moylan in the build-up 👌#LOI | #SHEDUN pic.twitter.com/Jf2Lz1vWaa
Evan Caffrey gave Moylan a run on goal minutes later. This time Dundalk’s defending was far better, Greg Sloggett getting back to make a telling block.
In a lively opening to the game, Shels defending was then a little sluggish on 12 minutes when Dundalk midfielder Paul Doyle was given acres of room to advance and hit a drive from distance that wasn’t too far wide.
But it was Moylan who was thrilling the home fans.
The Shels striker took a Jarvis pass to nutmeg Brownlie only to drill his shot wide.
Within a minute, Moylan pounced on a loose Dundalk pass to skip by Sloggett to once again blast his shot off target.
Remaining much the better side past the half hour, Shels' Caffrey failed to add any venom to his shot from Harry Wood’s corner to trouble Shepperd.
Struggling to ask questions of the home side, Dundalk saved their most penetrating move of the first half for deep into added time.
Daryl Horgan was twice involved in linking with Johannes Yli-Kokko to set up Doyle, who again shot just off target.
Though Dundalk had far more about them on the resumption, pinning Shelbourne in their own half early on, they failed to create an opening in the whole of the second period.
Having held firm with Gavin Molloy, Paddy Barrett and skipper Shane Griffin outstanding at the back, Shelbourne worked hard to play their way back into the game.
It was the 78th minute before either keeper had a save to make, Shepperd gathering a dangerous cross from Wood who then shot wide after good work from substitute Shane Farrell and Moylan.
Dundalk striker John Martin was fortunate to get away with just a yellow card on 81 minutes for a bad challenge on Brian McManusm who had to be helped off minutes after coming on.
Shelbourne: Conor Kearns; Gavin Molloy, Paddy Barrett, Shane Griffin; JJ Lunney, Mark Coyle; Tyreke Wilson, Evan Caffrey (Shane Farrell 69), Harry Wood, Will Jarvis (Brian McManus 78; Kameron Ledwidge 84)); Jack Moylan.
Dundalk: Nathan Shepperd; Archie Davis, Greg Sloggett, Darren Brownlie,, Robbie Benson (Cameron Elliott 71); Johannes Yli-Kokko (John Martin 62), Paul Doyle (Connor Malley 53), Daryl Horgan; Daniel Kelly (Ryan O’Kane 71), Patrick Hoban, Sam Durrant (Hayden Muller 53).
Referee: Eoghan O’Shea (Tipperary)
