Shelbourne find themselves within a point of the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division summit after they ground out a first win in five, overcoming basement side Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds.
All the goals arrived in the first half with John Martin opening the scoring after just three minutes, and Shels finding themselves two to the good eight minutes later when Kerr McInroy doubled the Dubliners' lead.
Sligo halved Shels' lead before the interval courtesy of Reece Hutchinson but despite having the better of the play for large parts of the second period, they couldn't find that elusive leveler.
Rovers finished the game with ten men after Cian Kavanagh was sent off on 72 minutes. Sligo now face into a crunch clash with Bohs next week possibly without four key players due to suspension.
Even without regular starters like Paddy Barrett, Sean Boyd and Sean Gannon, Shels were still able to name a strong side. Mark Coyle, John Martin, Mipo Odubeko, Lewis Temple and Evan Caffrey all made their way back into Damien Duff's plans.
Sligo welcomed back Matty Wolfe and Owen Elding, both of whom missed the recent narrow defeat to Derry.
With the highest number of goals conceded in the division this season, Rovers' defensive vulnerabilities were exposed early on.
It took just three minutes for the champions to take control when Martin profited from an under hit back pass from Oskar Van Hattum. The former Dundalk striker easily rounded Sligo goalkeeper Conor Walsh before finishing into an empty net.
The hosts sank further on 12 minutes. Easily moving the ball from right to left, possession eventually fell to Shels' Martin who turned provider, teeing up McInroy who lashed the ball beyond Walsh courtesy of a cultured first time finish.
Facing the deficit, Sligo did steadily find a footing in this one.
Connor Malley struck Conor Kearns' post with a long-range effort on 27 minutes, while Jad Hakiki and Owen Edling both went close before Hutchinson provided reward for effort when he fired home from inside the area in added time at the end of the half.
Rovers' intention looked far more meaningful in the opening moments of the second period with Shels forced to soak up Sligo pressure. But Kearns' goal was well protected as the Drumcondra side had to scramble to clear the danger on several occasions. While Malley screwed wide, an effort off the outside of his boot shortly after the hour mark.
The wind was somewhat taken from Sligo sails on 72 minutes when Kavanagh was shown red after he caught Mark Coyle with a high foot on the follow-through immediately after he sent a shot goalwards, much to the dismay of the home support.
Shels almost capitalised instantly on the numerical advantage only for Rovers net minder Walsh, who kept his side in the reckoning courtesy of a full-stretch save to deny substitute John O'Sullivan. While fellow change Boyd tested the Mayo man with a pot-shot on the turn which Walsh was equal to minutes later.
Rovers almost found a late equaliser from the most unlikely of sources in injury time. Having ventured forward for a corner, a cleared ball fell to goalkeeper Walsh whose cross was met by Harvey Lintott. The full-back's header looped across the face of Kearns' goal and wide.
Sligo Rovers: Conor Walsh; Oskar Van Hattum (Harvey Lintott 61), John Mahon, Ollie Denham (Gareth McElroy HT), Reece Hutchinson (Francely Lomboto 81); Connor Malley, Matty Wolfe (Ronan Manning HT); Owen Elding, Jad Hakiki, Will Fitzgerald; Cian Kavanagh
Shelbourne: Conor Kearns; Evan Caffrey, Lewis Temple, Kameron Ledwidge, James Norris; Kerr McInroy, Mark Coyle; JJ Lunney (John O'Sullivan 64); Ali Coote (Ellis Chapman 53), John Martin (Sean Boyd 78), Mipo Odubeko (Harry Wood 64)
Referee: Paul Norton
Attendance: 2,857
