The importance of the result over performance epitomised Shelbourne's win over Sligo Rovers at Tolka Park on Saturday night. There was a deeply felt satisfaction all round with a victory that puts Shelbourne two points clear of title rivals St Patrick's Athletic and in the driving seat to clinch that elusive championship last won six years ago.
Sligo started sloppily and gifted Shelbourne their opening goal after just four minutes. Mark Hutchison was caught ball-watching as Dessie Baker nipped in to send Stephen Geoghegan away down the right. Liam Kelly failed to get a touch to the cross, but defender, Paul Morgan, obliged by chesting the ball into his own net from about three yards out.
That appeared to signal a Shelbourne onslaught, though all they had to offer before the interval was a glancing header from Liam Kelly that was inches over and a long range shot from Geoghegan which flew straight into the arms of Sligo goalkeeper, Nicky Broujos.
Sligo recovered well from their sluggish start and might have been level by half-time.
Alan Gough had to make the save of the half to keep out an angled drive from Steve Jones while Conor O'Grady lobbed a 20-yard effort onto the crossbar minutes before the break.
Shelbourne continued to lack their usual lustre for much of the second half and had to be grateful for a typical piece of Geoghegan goalpoaching to seal their win in the 57th minute.
Shelbourne: Gough; Costello, McCarthy, Scully, Smith; Baker, Fitzgerald, Fenlon, Rutherford; Kelly, S. Geoghegan. Subs: D. Geoghegan for Rutherford (81 mins).
Sligo Rovers: Broujos; Morgan, Cobesson, Birks, Hutchison; Jones, Thew, Reid, O'Grady, Rowlands; Oates. Subs: Curran and Southworth for Oates and Thew (both 75 mins).
Referee: J Casey (Waterford).
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