His goal was good but Richie Foran's sending off immediately afterwards was the most memorable moment in a lively encounter at Tolka Park last night.
The youngster has been developing a range of ways of getting a red card of late - two weeks ago against Finn Harps here it was an off-the-ball incident. And his second dismissal in three games was ordered by Eddie Barr last night after the referee reckoned the celebrations of his goal had been a little bit over the top.
The goal ended up being enough to give the champions their first home points of the season and on balance they were worth their win. Kilkenny, though, might well have nicked a point if they had a little bit of luck on the night for early in the first half either Jason Kabia or Davey Mulcahy might have given them a lead to defend.
The strength of their first half showing was all the more remarkable given that for long stretches they were reduced to 10 men by injuries. First Tommy Byrne required treatment for a gash over his eye and then Michael Kerley, after a clash that earned Foran his first booking of the night, spent quite some time being treated.
In the second period, though, the visiting side's legs gradually deserted them and Shelbourne's ability to move the ball forward at speed as well as the options provided by the three-man attack gradually began to open up large gaps around the area.
In the 74th minute Dessie Baker pulled the ball in low from the right and goalkeeper Robert Forde followed Richie Baker as well as the Dubliner's marker and when all three failed to make contact Foran arrived behind them with only a tap in required from a couple of yards.
Unfortunately for the striker he then removed his shirt and embarked on a somewhat scenic route back to the centre circle. Long before he got there the match official was chasing after him and to the disgust of the home side's supporters, showing him another yellow card.
SHELBOURNE: Williams; Heary, Scully, McCarthy, Hutchison; Byrne, Fenlon, Doolin (D Baker, 55 mins); R Baker, Foran, Keddy.
KILKENNY CITY: Forde; Brennan (Kenny, 59 mins), Riordan, Kerley, Mullen, Byrne; Mulcahy, Costello (Walsh, 81 mins), McGrath; Kabia, Murray (Parkes, 81 mins).
Referee: E Barr (Dublin).
