Dylan Watts' 58th minute strike helped Shamrock Rovers see off already relegated Dundalk at Oriel Park to ensure the League of Ireland title race will go down to the wire next weekend.
The Hoops knew travelling to the Co Louth venue that they needed a win to keep the pressure on Shelbourne going into the final day when Damien Duff’s side are away to Derry City, with five in-a-row chasing Rovers at home to Waterford FC in Tallaght Stadium.
Oriel Park hasn’t been a happy hunting ground of Stephen Bradley’s side in recent years with just two wins and seven defeats in their last 10 visits prior to this.
However, having soaked up plenty of pressure from the hosts in the first half, Rovers eventually got the job done with a second big goal from Watts in the space of nine days after he had also scored an 84th minute winner in his side’s 1-0 win away to Drogheda Utd last Friday week.
While it was the visitors who needed the win, their only effort of the opening half came on 12 minutes when Watts fired well over from range as he attempted to catch Ross Munro off his line following a scuffed clearance from the Scottish goalkeeper.
There were more nervous moments at the other end with one of them coming on the quarter hour mark when the ball dropped for John Mountney in the box, whose shot was deflected wide.
From the resulting corner, Daryl Horgan’s delivery was kept alive by Mountney with Jad Hakiki, who was a Shels player up until a few months ago, crashing a volley off the underside of the crossbar. Eoin Kenny also had a bite at the cherry in the follow up but saw his effort blocked.
Mountney would head wide from another Horgan corner late in the half before the hosts threatened an upset again in the third minute of stoppage time when Kenny played Mahon in only for the former Bohemians winger to be denied by a fine stop from Leon Pohls, who sprung to his right to push the shot away.
Rovers should have been ahead within 54 seconds of the restart when half-time substitute Graham Burke pulled the ball back for Johnny Kenny just a few yards out but with the goal gaping he somehow pulled his effort wide.
The breakthrough did arrive on 58 minutes with what was Rovers’ first shot on target as Watts volleyed to the bottom left hand corner from the right of the box under the legs of Sean Keogh and Hayden Cann after Burke had kept a Jack Byrne corner alive.
To their credit, Dundalk almost replied immediately with Mayowa Animasahun’s header from Horgan’s free kick being pushed away by Pohls just a minute later.
Either side of another effort from Watts into the side-netting, Aaron Greene then had two efforts off target as the Hoops looked to seal the victory.
Watts would go close again to adding a second eight minutes from the end but saw his effort pushed over by Munro.
Jon Daly’s side battled for an equaliser in the seven minutes of additional time added but a 13th blank at home of the season ensured they will end the campaign with just nine goals scored in 18 home league matches.
The Lilywhites will travel to face neighbours Drogheda Utd in a dead rubber tie on Friday but for Rovers it’s all to play for, with the reigning champions - who haven’t led the table at any stage this season - dreaming of finishing the year on top once again.
Dundalk: Ross Munro; John Mountney, Mayowa Animasahun, Hayden Cann, Sean Keogh; Aodh Dervin (Norman Garbett 76) (Scott McGill 83), Koen Oostenbrink (Vincent Leonard 83); Daryl Horgan, Jad Hakiki (Ryan O’Kane 66), Robbie Mahon (Dara Keane 66); Eoin Kenny.
Shamrock Rovers: Leon Pohls; Daniel Cleary, Roberto Lopes, Lee Grace; Neil Farrugia, Gary O’Neill (Graham Burke HT), Dylan Watts, Josh Honohan (Darragh Burns HT); Jack Byrne (Markus Poom 85), Danny Mandriou (Aaron McEneff 55); Johnny Kenny (Aaron Greene 63).
Referee: Rob Harvey (Dublin).
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