DAMIEN DUFF celebrated his 100th game in charge of Shelbourne with a win that guarantees Shels will now pass 100 days on top of the table.
John Martin netted the winner 19 minutes from time to see off Dundalk and ensure the three points to keep them ahead of Derry City in the table.
At the time, they were at risk of relinquishing top spot for the first time since claiming top spot 95 days ago on March 4 as Derry were set to go ahead of them on goal difference.
But then Will Jarvis produced some magic and Martin poached the winner to earn Shelbourne a deserved three points.
It was a lovely worked goal as Paddy Barrett swept a pass out to the left and Tyreke Wilson who headed onto Jarvis hugging the touchline.
The English winger had moments earlier collided with a floodlight pylon in a similar position, but showed no ill effects as he skipped by Archie Davies on the end line.
And from then on, Dundalk were in trouble as he fired the ball across the six-yard box low and hard for Martin to slide in his third goal of the season.
Shelbourne celebrated and did what they have done all season - won every game having scored the opening goal.
But it hurt Jon Daly’s Dundalk who slipped back to the foot of the table on goal difference just five days after climbing off it with a win over St Patrick’s Athletic.
They will rue some opportunities.
Teenager Eoin Kenny - who is currently doing his Leaving Cert - came off the bench and shot into the side netting and later rattled the crossbar with a brilliant shot from distance.
But it was a game they rarely threatened as they had to put in a huge defensive shift.
That was understandable in the circumstances having lost goalkeeper Ross Munro in the warm-up which meant a debut for 19-year-old Seán Molloy.
He confidently caught a Tyreke Wilson cross after 70 seconds.
But then had a relatively quiet first outing as those in front of him meant Shelbourne did not have a single shot on target until Martin’s goal.
That was down to a combination of some fine Dundalk defending, but also bad finishing from Shelbourne.
The Lilywhites’ back three withstood everything with Andy Boyle outstanding as he got his head to cross after cross as did Mayowa Animasahun.
When they were momentarily marked absent, others stepped in as Daryl Horgan denied Shelbourne a certain counter attack goal on 19 minutes.
It actually started with a Horgan free kick from high up the field on the left that was hoofed clear by Matty Smith for Jarvis to sprint down the right wing.
The Dundalk defence was marked absent up field as Smith slipped the ball across field to the onrushing Evan Caffrey.
But Caffrey took a heavy touch and it allowed Horgan - who had sprinted back 80 yards - to make a perfectly timed slide tackle in the box to clear the danger.
And when Shelbourne did breach the Lilywhites rearguard, their own finishing let them down as Jarvis curled an effort wide on 35 minutes after being put through by Martin.
Dundalk were offering little themselves in attack as they spent most of the game with 11 behind the ball, though the loss of Jamie Gullan though injury on 26 minutes did not help.
Boss Jon Daly did reshuffle at half time. But it continued to be largely one-way traffic towards the Lilywhites goal with Liam Burt seeing a 25-yard shot whistle past the post on 52 minutes.
Moments later, Caffrey volleyed into the side netting from a tight angle when picked out by a lofted JJ Lunney cross.
Dundalk offered a threat on the counter attack with Eoin Kenny firing into the side netting on 66 minutes.
But Damien Duff’s decision to sacrifice Mark Coyle with 25 minutes remaining and also bring on a second striker in Dean Williams highlighted how much his side were on top.
Yet the goal, or even a real clear cut chance did not look like it would come until Jarvis’ quick feet created one and Martin did the rest.
There was still the scare as Kenny swivelled and crashed a shot off the crossbar from the edge of the area on 75 minutes and nerves in the five minutes of injury time.
But they held on to make it 100 days on top of the table.
With 15 games remaining, a two-point cushion and a game in hand, they will soon start counting down the days they need to remain on top.
Sun Star Man - JJ Lunney (Shelbourne)
Shelbourne: Kearns 7, Gannon 7, Barrett 7, Molloy 7, Wilson 7;Coyle 6 (O’Sullivan 65, 6), Lunney 8; Smith 6 (Burt ht, 6), Caffrey 6 (Williams 65, 6), Jarvis 8 (Ledwedge 81, 6); Martin 7 (Farrell 84, 6).
Dundalk: Molloy 7; Johnson 7, Boyle 7, Animasahun 7 (Benson ht, 6); Davies 6, Muller 5 (Kenny 63, 6), Doyle 6, Mountney 6; Horgan 6, Gullan 5 (Elliott 26, 6), O’Kane 6 (Durant 76, 6).
Referee: D Macgraith (Tipperary) 6.
