It was the game that should have sustained Cork City's challenge for that elusive title, but Shelbourne not only took over their leadership of the Premier Division, they did it with the performance of the season.

Games like this sort out the champions, and this display at Turner's Cross yesterday could well mark Shelbourne's prolonged position on top.

It certainly gave manager Dermot Keely an afternoon to saviour. "The result was good enough, but I thought the standard of play was fantastic," he said.

There's no doubt that Shelbourne were, for the most part, highly organised in defence, and equally effective on the counter attack. With a balance of determination and confidence, they never allowed the hosts a glimpse of the points as goals from Richie Baker and Stephen Geoghegan ensures them a three-point lead at the top.

It was a cautious game from the start, just one indication of what was at stake, but Shelbourne gradually built on their possession to greater effect. Their first significant attack on the quarter hour began with Dessie Baker's breaking ball and not for the first time, it caught the Cork defence off guard. Geoghegan slipped it into Richer Baker and his shot forced Phil Harrington to pull off the first of many important saves.

But there was no stopping Richie Baker's opening strike on 22 minutes. Paul Doolin laid on the sweetest of passes and with one touch inside the box Baker drove the ball into the corner.

Geoghegan then set up Dessie Baker from close range shortly after and again Harrington was fortunate to cover the space. But then on 33 minutes, and with relative ease, Cork equalised.

It started with John Caulfield's run into the box and with a miss-clearance by Tony McCarthy, the follow-up shot by Pat Morley was pushed over by Steve Williams. The subsequent corner by Ollie Cahill was flicked on by Liam O'Brien onto the head of Caulfied, who headed low into the corner of the net.

Level at the break, there was less immediacy about both sides ambitions at the start of the second half, yet Cork were still lacking in attacking ideas. It was not unexpected when in a slowly worked move Shelbourne scored their second after 58 minutes. Richie Baker was again part of the build-up, and following Doolin's run into the right side of the box, the ball was played back to Geoghegan and he had little trouble drilling it low into the corner from no more than 10 yards out.

Heading into the last 20 minutes, it wasn't looking good for Cork. Mark Herrick was the most threatening from outside the box. Meanwhile, Morley was booked for deliberately punching the ball inside the box. The big problem, though, was Shelbourne's increasingly tight defence. Kelvin Flanagan and Johnny Glynn were both introduced to little effect, and despite one last moment when Dave Hill forced a save from Williams some five minutes from time, the situation proved hopeless for the home side.

Cork City: Harrington; Napier, Cronin, Hill, Daly; C O'Brien, Cahill, L O'Brien, Herrick; Morley, Caulfield. Subs: Flanagan for C O'Brien (65 mins), Glynn for L O'Brien (77 mins).

Shelbourne: Williams; Heary, D Geoghegan, McCarthy, Scully; D Baker, Doolin, S Geoghegan, R Baker; Fenlon, Keddy. Subs: Campbell for Doolin (70 mins), Van der Velden for Keddy (79 mins).

Referee: J McDermott (Dublin).