Shelbourne marked the return to action of their influential captain Paddy Barrett with a late, late winner at home to Waterford at Tolka Park.
Seán Boyd fired home in injury-time with a perfectly hit strike after the Blues Pádraig Amond had cancelled out Will Jarvis' opener in the first half.
Waterford appeared poised to hang on to keep their hopes of avoiding relegation on the rails but Shels kept their resolve to take a well deserved victory and remain fifth.
Paddy Barrett returned to captain Shelbourne against his hometown club following the tragic passing of his mother Anne last week.
The Blues, understandably having huge sympathy for Barrett’s plight, came into the game in form after picking up their first win of the season against Drogheda United.
And the home fans were in full voice ahead of kick-off as they showed their fervent support for their loyal skipper at such a pivotal and upsetting time in his life.
Shelbourne made the early running as French full-back Milan Mbeng. He pulled the ball back well to Evan Caffrey but the versatile man’s effort was blocked by John Mahon.
The home side continued to stride as Barrett played in Portuguese striker Rodrigo Freitas, who twisted and turned but could not find the net.
Waterford’s first real effort came courtesy of Jordan Houston as he slipped in top scorer Amond, but Wessel Speel was out quickly to smother his attempt.
And Shels took the lead eight minutes before the break as JJ Lunney and Harry Wood linked up brilliantly for the latter to slip in Jarvis to finish emphatically.
The lead was short-lived, however, as left-back Benny Couto found space and rifled in a low cross for Amond to prod home.
The Reds continued to press in injury time as Mbeng was denied by Stephen McMullan before Ali Coote missed the post with a long drive.
Shels sub Daniel Kelly took the fight to the visitors and he shot straight at McMullan before Amond responded at the other end with a header that just missed the post.
And the Blues did their part with Tommy Longeran and Dean McMenamy both testing Speel with efforts from range.
Shelbourne had a great chance on the break as sub Mipo Odubeko found Kelly and Caffrey met his cross, only for his touch to clear the crossbar.
And Kelly had a good effort palmed away by McMullan before Mahon unceremoniously cleared the ball from the Waterford half.
Ringsend man Kelly was in his element and he nutmegged Couto before firing a low shot that was well saved by McMullan on the three-quarter mark.
Odubeko, finally returned from a difficult recent time with injury, showed good intent to evade Hayden Cann in the final minutes but he pulled his shot from just outside the box.
And as Shels pushed in injury time, Ledwidge’s cross was diverted into the path of Kelly, only for the ball to bounce over his foot.
They were not to be denied, however, as Odubeko’s knockdown found Boyd and the Swords man rifled the ball past McMullan.
Shelbourne: Wessel Speel; Milan Mbeng (Maill Lundgren 61), Sam Bone, Paddy Barrett, Kameron Ledwidge; Will Jarvis (Daniel Kelly 55), JJ Lunney, Evan Caffrey (Seán Boyd 79); Harry Wood, Ali Coote (Ellis Chapman 79), Rodrigo Freitas (Mipo Odubeko 61)
Waterford: Stephen McMullan; Jordan Houston, Kevin Long, Will Johnson, John Mahon, Benny Couto; Luke Heeney (Sam Glenfield 70), Hayden Cann, Dean McMenamy (Cian Barrettt 73); Pádraig Amond (Jorgen Voilas 85), Tommy Lonergan (Conan Noonan 85)
Referee: Arnold Hunter
