Josh Honohan went from zero to hero as Shamrock Rovers took a firm grasp of the title race and might have ended Shelbourne's hopes in the process at Tolka Park.
Dan Cleary’s expert header had given the Hoops the lead before Honohan found his own net with a header of equal quality.
Publicly criticized by Stephen Bradley and subsequently unused on international duty, Honohan had the last laugh as he found the winner with a sensational finish six minutes from time.
Rovers are now six clear at the top and twelve ahead of Shelbourne having won six of their last seven.
Tyreke Wilson was given an interesting role in midfield of following Jack Byrne like a dying wasp. The only problem is that he can’t get near him over a free kick and Byrne delivered on a sixpence for the unmarked Cleary to head home in the 12th minute.
Damien Duff labelled the mid-season break as a 'week on the gargle’ well there may have been a few hungover heads in the Shels defence as Cleary ran from the edge of the box unopposed..
Just after the half hour mark Shels were level out of nothing. A hopeful cross by Kameron Ledwidge was headed into his own net by Josh Honohan who completely lost his bearings. A finish equal to that of Cleary at the other end.
Shelbourne looked like their old selves after the goal and brought a huge bite to the end of the half.
But they were fortunate not to lose their heads before the whistle as Ellis Chapman cleared off the line before Kearns produced a fine save to deny Daniel Grant.
Rovers controlled the start of the second half and a beautiful cross from Grant found the head of McEneff but he headed straight at Kearns.
Dylan Watts was part of a triple substitution in the 68th minute by Stephen Bradley and it almost had an immediate effect when his free kick was headed in by Cleary again only for Rob Harvey’s whistle to come to Shelbourne’s rescue.
Rovers enjoyed a purple patch, Grant’s sensational touch and pass set up Graham Burke whose deflected effort was muscled away by Kearns as darkness descended.
Shels responded in kind, looking to end the second half like they did the first as a breakaway saw Harry Wood strike towards goal.
Despite Shels’ tails being up they were dealt a suckerpunch in the 83rd minute.
The Reds failed to clear their lines and as the ball broke to Honohan in the area he rifled the ball into the top corner to atone for his own goal and send a deathly silence over Tolka.
Shelbourne: Conor Kearns, Sean Gannon, Tyreke Wilson (Wood 68), Kameron Ledwidge, Mark Coyle (Lunney 68), James Norris, Evan Caffrey, Paddy Barrett, Kerr McInroy (Coote 81), John Martin (Boyd 57), Ellis Chapman (Odubeko 57)
Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty, Josh Honohan (Clarke 86), Adam Matthews (Grace 6), Pico Lopes, Dan Cleary, Aaron McEneff, Daniel Mandroiu (Greene 68), Matt Healy, Rory Gaffney (Watts 68), Daniel Grant, Jack Byrne (Burke 68)
