Shelbourne secured a vital 2-1 victory over Dundalk at Oriel Park on May 1, 2026, ending a five-game winless streak and lifting them out of eighth place. Goals from Daniel Kelly and Kerr McInroy proved decisive for the visitors, who survived a late scare from Daryl Horgan's penalty to claim all three points. This crucial win saw both sides looking to bounce back from recent defeats in the League of Ireland Premier Division.

The match, played under clear evening skies on the Carrick Road, saw Shelbourne take an early lead after just ten minutes. A well-executed corner routine involving Jack Henry-Francis and Harry Wood, who made his 100th appearance for the club, found Kerr McInroy in the box. His effort was expertly flicked in by former Dundalk player Daniel Kelly from close range, giving Shelbourne the advantage.

Dundalk attempted an immediate response, with Eoin Kenny's shot from outside the box soaring just over the crossbar after a pass from JR Wilson. The first half also saw heated exchanges, leading to yellow cards for Dundalk's Mauro Martins and Ciaran Kilduff on the touchline following a challenge on Shelbourne's Sean Boyd. Martins was later shown a red card for his reaction to another incident involving Boyd and Mayowa Animasahun.

Despite Dundalk controlling more possession, they struggled to create clear-cut chances in a cagey first half-hour. Shelbourne, however, nearly doubled their lead after 34 minutes when a long ball found Daniel Kelly, whose one-on-one effort was brilliantly saved by Dundalk goalkeeper Enda Minogue. It was Kerr McInroy who eventually scored Shelbourne's second goal, further solidifying their lead before the break.

The second half saw Shelbourne maintain their advantage, but Dundalk pressed hard for a comeback. A late penalty, converted by Daryl Horgan, injected tension into the final moments, giving the home side a glimmer of hope. Shelbourne's JJ Lunney received a booking for a shirt pull on Ronan Teahan earlier in the game, highlighting the physical nature of the contest.

Ultimately, Shelbourne held firm against Dundalk's late push, securing their first win in five games. The victory at Oriel Park was a significant boost for the Dublin club, allowing them to climb out of eighth place and regain momentum in the League of Ireland Premier Division.