Shelbourne battled to a hard-earned victory over FAI Cup finalists Drogheda United at United Park last night.
A goal early in the first half and a gift from the home side 10 minutes from time saw the defending champions take all three points.
The opening minutes saw the visitors win a corner on the right, which Alan Moore floated into the box for Jason Byrne who powered his header narrowly over.
With five minutes on the watch Shelbourne struck for the opening goal when Curtis Fleming swung the ball over from the right for Gary O'Neill who slipped between the home side's centre half pairing to guide the ball to the net with a deft header.
Just short of the half-hour mark O'Neill's shot from 15 yards deflected off his own man Moore and out for a goal-kick.
Joseph Ndo went close to a second for the visitors when he unleashed a tremendous strike from 30 yards which grazed the home side's woodwork.
It was all of 40 minutes before Drogheda created a goal opportunity.
Following a flowing move down the left wing Simon Webb found Declan O'Brien with a nice pass on the left side of the visitors' area.
O'Brien was closed down by Owen Heary but he did manage to get his shot away which Shelbourne goalkeeper Dean Delaney was grateful to see creep past his left-hand post.
Drogheda emerged for the second half with greater conviction and created the first opening after three minutes when Jermaine Sandvliet broke down the left and crossed for half-time substitute Sami Ristila, who knocked the ball wide from 12 yards.
Almost immediately at the other end Byrne latched onto a fortunate rebound off a home defender only to see his shot from the edge of the box saved by Dan Connor.
Shelbourne moved the ball swiftly to the other end and O'Neill was slightly unlucky to see his shot deflect off defender Stephen Gray before being tipped to safety by Connor.
With 72 minutes gone, panic engulfed the visitors defence as Ollie Cahill booted the ball out for a corner. Stephen Bradley's right-sided kick was met by Graham Gartland who powered his header narrowly wide.
Drogheda were enjoying their best spell of the match at this stage and were once more unlucky not to draw level when Shane Robinson knocked a free to Damien Lynch who sent his shot from 30 yards just past the post.
With 10 minutes remaining Shelbourne made the points safe in bizarre circumstances from a Drogheda perspective.
A misunderstanding between Connor and centre half Gray where both left the ball for each other saw Glen Crowe score one of the easiest goals of his career as he tapped the ball over the line from five yards.
DROGHEDA: Connor, Lynch, Webb (Ristila, half-time), Whelan, Gray, Gartland, Robinson, Fahy (Bradley, 67 mins), O'Brien, Malcolm, Sandvliet.
SHELBOURNE: Delaney, Heary, Cahill, Rogers, Hawkins, Fleming, O'Neill (Crowe, 72 mins), Ndo, Moore (S Byrne, 70 mins), J Byrne, Hoolahan.
Referee: J Feighery (Dublin).
