There was much for Shelbourne manager Joey O'Brien to be pleased about after Shelbourne came away with a priceless win from their trip to champions-elect Shamrock Rovers, a result which boost their chances of automatic qualification for Europe next season.
Kerr McInroy's first-half strike ensured Shels will remain champions for at least a week but the manner of the performance was one that would have pleased O'Brien. The Tolka Park outfit were in control for much of the encounter in Dublin 24 and also stood tall following Paddy Barrett's red card with 15 minutes left, with goalkeeper Wessel Speel making an important save late on.
"It was a great performance from the lads, coming here and winning is always a big result," the manager outlined to RTÉ Sport afterwards.
"In the first half I thought we were brilliant; in our possession and chances we created. The only disappointing thing going in at half time was that we were only up one. In the second half I thought we had control for large periods and then they came with a rattle at the end.
"We had the sending off and the kitchen sink was thrown at us at the end. We had a little bit of luck and then a big save. I thought we deserved it."
O'Brien also words of praise for goalscorer McInroy and fellow midfielder John Henry-Francis.
"I thought Kerr was brilliant," he said.
"A proper centre midfield player, a box-to-box midfielder and you can never beat that.
"John is a top, top player. His injury (earlier in the season) was a bit of a setback for everyone at the football club but he's getting up to speed now and we have to be mindful of him, manage him so that he doesn't get injured again."
Next up for Shelbourne is another trip on the road, this time to Turner's Cross and a meeting with Cork City on Monday evening.
A case of more of the same against a side who have "real momentum" for O'Brien.
"We have our objective (European qualification) but we have a real, tough game coming up.
"Because we won tonight means nothing, we have to nail a performance on Monday."
O'Brien's counterpart Stephen Bradley felt his side weren't quite at it, the absence of key players being a factor in his view.
"The rhythm wasn't quite there which is normal when you make that amount of changes in key positions," he reflected.
"Asking Adam (Matthews) to play centre-back, he hasn't done that and then Darragh (Nugent) at right-wing-back.
"Look the squad is a good squad and the rhythm was always going to be off but I thought how they got to grips with it in the second half was excellent."
Expanding more on that second 45, he added: "We had a chat at half time, went through what we had to do and we caused them real problems in the second half. There was a few that they cleared off the line and that happens but I couldn't ask much more from the players.
"What they brought to the table in the second half was really, really good. turned the screw but we couldn't get that goal."
The Hoops face St Pat's in Inchicore next Friday. Another chance to seal the deal with regard to winning a 22nd league title.
Bradley is confident more of key men will be back for what will be a hectic few weeks to come.
"We'll regroup and review this, get the bodies back and we'll go to Inchicore next week.
"We should have Lee Grace, Josh (Honohan) and Danny Grant back next week. We didn't want to rush any of them, too many games coming up. It's important we don't rush them."
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