Dundalk staged a late, late show to take all three points in a 3-2 win at Shelbourne on a night when the Drumcondra Stand at Tolka Park reopened for the first time since 2019.
Zeno Ibsen Rossi, who had earlier equalised for Shels, inadvertently gave Ciaran Kilduff’s side their first away win of the season in the 86th minute.
The game proved a real advertisement for the league and appeared to be heading for a draw after Shels had staged a second-half comeback.
However, four minutes from time, Eoin Kenny hammered in a left-wing cross which was diverted into his own net by Rossi.
It sent the travelling supporters into ecstasy as Dundalk registered their first win over the 2024 league champions in their last eight attempts to go above Shels in the table.
There was an early chance for Shels as Kerr McInroy broke free down the left and his cross found Evan Caffrey, who in turn picked out Harry Wood close in, but a brave save at Wood’s feet by visiting keeper Enda Minogue snuffed out the chance, with Minogue requiring treatment after the goalmouth scramble
Dundalk responded as Bobby Burns cracked in a shot from distance, which was smothered by home goalkeeper Wessel Speel.
But the Lilywhites opened the scoring in the 11th minute as a Daryl Horgan corner in front of the newly reopened stand was played short to Burns and his cross was headed on by Conor O’Keefe and Gbemi Arubi into the net.
Dundalk forced a succession of corners, unsettling Shels, who found themselves on the back foot for long spells in the first half.
It came as no surprise when they went two up at the midway point of the half.
The visitors overwhelmed the home defence, who lost possession in midfield, and Burns crashed in a stunning left-footed volley from inside the area.
Just past the half-hour, Declan McDaid’s shot was saved by Speel, diving full length to his right as Dundalk kept up their relentless onslaught on the home defence.
The Shelbourne net bulges after Gbemi Arubi (R) heads Dundalk into the lead
Two down at the break, Shels manager Joey O’Brien was clearly not happy with his defence in particular, and made three half-time substitutions, bringing in defenders Sean Gannon and James Norris, along with midfielder William Jarvis.
The home side spurned a great chance to pull one back 10 minutes after the restart.
After good combination play from Gannon and Wood, the ball fell kindly for Daniel Kelly, who blazed a wonderful opportunity over the bar.
But the same pairing of Wood and Gannon set up a Shels goal on the hour mark as a sliding cross from Gannon picked out Rossi, who slammed the ball to the net to cut the deficit.
Dundalk should have put two goals between the sides again on 63 minutes after a defensive lapse, but Arubi shot left and wide when one-on-one with Speel.
Arubi’s shot moments later was parried by Speel, this after a huge appeal for a Dundalk penalty. As the visitors continued to argue, Kelly broke clear before squaring for John Martin to equalise close in on 67 minutes.
Shels almost hit the front in a rip-roaring second half as Jarvis closed in on goal chased by two defenders and it was only a last-ditch challenge from Tyreke Wilson, who got his boot to a Jarvis goalbound shot, that denied the Reds a third.
But Rossi’s own goal four minutes from time grabbed all three points for the Lilywhites as the players danced in celebration in front of their delighted supporters at the full-time whistle.
Shelbourne: Wessel Speel; Evan Caffrey (Sean Gannon 45), Zeno Rossi, Sam Bone (James Norris 45), Kameron Ledwidge, Daniel Kelly (Rodrigo Freitas 72); Jack Henry-Francis Kerr McInroy (captain); Maill Lundgren (William Jarvis 45), Harry Wood; John Martin (Sean Boyd 82).
Dundalk: Enda Minogue; John Ross Wilson , Mayowa Animasahun, Conor O’Cleary, Tyreke Wilson; Declan McDaid (Eoin Kenny 65), Keith Buckley, Robert Burns (Harvey Warren 88), Harry Groome (Shane Tracey 78), Daryl Horgan (captain); Gbemi Arubi.
Referee: Lucas Keating