Joey O'Brien bagged his first three points as now permanent Shelbourne manager with a deserved win over 10-man Cork City.
Harry Wood and Mipo Odubeko set the hosts on their way with two goals in the opening six minutes before Kitt Nelson struck to make what looked to be an intriguing second half.
However Charlie Lyons' dismissal proved too much of a mountain to climb, as JJ Lunney struck late on to seal a massive victory.
The announcement of the former Irish International O'Brien as Damien Duff’s successor on a long-term basis managed to just calm the off-the-field questions around Tolka Park at a crucial stage of the season with a potential season defining game against Linfield looming large on the horizon.
With two draws in their last two games, the reigning champions wasted no time in getting in front as Wood opened the scoring in just the second minute, sharply intercepting Lyons’ pass out wide before coolly clipping the ball over Conor Brann.
Despite the renewed optimism around the visitors, City found themselves further behind just four minutes later as Wood turned provider, squaring smartly to Odubeko to smash home his sixth of the season following a free-flowing move.
The loss of top-scorer Djenairo Daniels as a focal point looked to be proving pivotal as the game went on with Seani Maguire looking isolated.
The one-way Reds traffic continued and midway through the first half it should have been three when Odubeko pounced on further sloppy defensive play. The enigmatic striker raced clear on goal, but his touch took him slightly wide as he scuffed his left-footed shot wide of the target
The traffic was brought to an abrupt halt as the visitors began to grow into the game. Greg Bolger’s shot from distance almost caught Conot Kearns off his line which seemed to breathe life into the Leesiders.
Freddie Anderson’s back-post header from an out-swinging corner beat Kearns but just missed the target, before Shels’ set-piece woes finally told on the stroke of half time.
Anderson, at full stretch, kept the ball alive at the back post before it fell kindly to Nelson, who made no mistake sweeping the ball into the bottom corner.
Having given themselves a lifeline, the bottom of the table side swiftly took the wind out of their own sails as skipper Lyons was given his marching orders for a dangerous looking lunge on Mark Coyle.
Sensing blood O’Brien introduced Sean Boyd to partner Odubeko in attack, but it was fellow substitute Daniel Kelly whose pace looked dangerous down the right.
Struggling to find a third, man-of-the-match Wood tried to grab the game by the scruff of the neck and looked threatening every time he picked up the ball.
His deep cross from the right found the unmarked James Norris at the back post, but the on-loan Liverpool man’s first-time effort trickled just wide of the far post
As the game entered the dying embers, an Lunney then made sure of all three points when his deep cross from the right-hand side floated over everyone before sneaking in at the back post to earn the hosts their first win in four.
Shelbourne: Conor Kearns; Mark Coyle, Paddy Barrett, Kameron Ledwidge, Evan Caffrey (Daniel Kelly, 60'), Kerr McInroy (Sean Boyd, 60’), JJ Lunney, James Norris; Ali Coote (Ellis Chapman, 60’), Harry Wood (John O’Sullivan, 79’), Mipo Odubeko (John Martin, 71’)
Cork City: Conor Brann; Milan Mbeng, Charlie Lyons, Freddie Anderson (Charlie Lutz, 76’), Matthew Kiernan; Greg Bolger, Sean Murray (Evan McLaughlin, 46’); Alex Nolan (Fiacre Kelleher, 56’), Darragh Crowley, Kitt Nelson (Cathal O’Sullivan, 56’); Sean Maguire (Malik Dijksteel, 45’)
Referee: Rob Harvey (Dublin)
