Dylan McGlade got the only goal of the game as Cobh Ramblers boosted their play-off chances with victory over Athlone Town at St Colman's Park.
The winger hit the back of the net in the 35th minute at the Liam McMahon Stand, and that proved to be the difference between two play-off rivals under the lights.
The result does mean Cobh stay in sixth place, but they are level on points with Athlone.
The Ramblers were aggressive in their bid to get a result, with an early attempt from Kelly Noonan stinging the palms of Andrew Stuart Trainor.
Athlone’s first attack came from a free-kick won from an Oran Crowe foul in the 10th minute. Aaron Moloney stepped up to take this, and his effort came off the wall.
Gradi Lomboto followed that up in the 18th minute with a deflected strike that went just wide. The resulting corner was knocked down for Rhys Gourdie, who was able to get the ball away for Cobh at the back post.
The Ramblers pushed up in response and Athlone broke after a shot from McGlade was picked off by Lomboto, and Jason Abbott got in the way of the striker before he could test Timothy Martin.
The goalkeeper was then called into action when Brian McManus unleashed a venomous volley on the half hour mark. The Luxembourg underage international stretched to deny the midfielder, and the resulting corner came to nothing.
The Ramblers soaked up the pressure before releasing O’Neill down the right wing. The teenager’s effort was scrambled off the goal line for Kelly Noonan, who used it to set up McGlade for a close-range finish in the 35th minute.
The second half began with attempts falling to McGlade and Gourdie, and neither was able to test the Athlone defence.
Kyle O’Connor hit back with a deep cross intended for Cillian Tollett and Timothy Martin came out to get this away for Cobh.
The Ramblers had a number of chances to get a second and kill the game off.
Anthony Adenopo could have got one, but he was denied by an onrushing Stuart Trainor. Wilson Waweru also hit the side netting in the 88th minute, before one last Athlone advance.
That came down to a free kick that Cobh blocked down to win the ball back inside their own penalty area, during seven additional minutes of time.
Cobh Ramblers: Timothy Martin; Luka Le Bervet, Cian Coleman, Brendeán Frahill, Shane Griffin; Jason Abbott, Oran Crowe (Brian Lenihan 81); Kai O’Neill, Rhys Gourdie, Dylan McGlade; Rhys Kelly Noonan.
Subs: Anthony Adenopo for O’Neill (63); Lucas Curtin for Coleman (72), Shane T. Griffin for Abbott (72), Wilson Waweru for Kelly Noonan (72).
Athlone Town: Andrew Stuart Trainor; Jonathan Kehir (Reece Webb 77), Evan O’Connor, James Crawford, Kyle O’Connor; Aaron Moloney, Brian McManus; Thomas Considine (Derin Adewale HT), Callum Cleary (Robert Lyons 77), Patrick Ferry (Cillian Tollett 57); Gradi Lomboto.
Referee: Glen Geraghty
Elsewhere, Bray edged a thrilling contest against second-place UCD at Belfield.
The Wicklow side were two up after nine minutes thanks to a Ben McCormack brace with Hugh Smith replying for the Students.
John Bilili Sesay and Ifunanyachi Achara goals made it 4-1 at half-time but Mark Dignam and Sean Murphy scored to make it a nervy ending for Wanderers, who had Alain Kizenga sent off in the 86th minute.
The visitors held on to move to third place, four points behind UCD.
Kerry FC came from a goal down to beat Wexford 2-1.
Jake Doyle gave the visitors to Mounthawk Park an early lead but Ryan Kelliher's double secured the points for the Munster side, who remain just ahead of bottom placed Treaty United on goal difference.
United had a 3-0 win at home to Finn Harps.
Ronan Manning gave the Limerick outfit a 29th-minute lead before Cian Curtis doubled their advantage before the break.
Curtis added a second just after half-time to secure the points.
