Shelbourne end winless run to edge closer to league crown

Shelbourne's first win in six games edged them closer to a first Premier Division title since 2006 after a stunning second-half crescendo saw off Waterford at Tolka Park.

In this mini run of three games to the finish, a late penalty from Sean Boyd and a stunning Liam Burt strike maintained Shelbourne's two-point lead over Derry and Shamrock Rovers with two games remaining.

Padraig Amond threatened to be the latest to derail Shelbourne's title bid when his penalty put Waterford in front, but Boyd levelled before he struck again from the spot to put Shels ahead ten minutes from time.

Substitute Burt made sure of a crucial three points in sumptuous fashion to reinstall belief that Damien Duff's side can go all the way.

Shelbourne arrived with just one win in ten while Waterford had won just twice in that spell, so the first half an hour was expectedly timid before the game burst into life.

Boyd slipped in Ali Coote but as he swivelled inside and out, he struck straight at Sam Sargeant.

Shelbourne began to emerge from their shell and almost pounced on a Barry Crowe-Baggley slip but Rayhaan Tulloch again fired into the arms of Sargeant.

Shelbourne still looked indecisive and that was reflected in the chaos that unfolded after Kameron Ledwidge mistakenly let a ball run wide for a Waterford corner.

From the corner came a Waterford penalty, but the decision to blow for a spot kick was questionable.

Referee Rob Hennessey judged John Martin to have taken out Grant Horton but replays showed the former Waterford man was bundled into the challenge by Darragh Power.

Amond rubbed salt into the wounds and slammed the ball into the bottom corner for his 13th of the season after 37 minutes.

Shelbourne responded immediately and