SHELBOURNE...3 LONGFORD TOWN...2James Gannon scored a late winner to keep Shelbourne top of table after a pulsating match at Tolka Park, the result of which was harsh on Longford.

Jason Byrne maintained his goal-a-game ratio for Shelbourne to give them their 18th minute lead - his fourth league goal of the season. Penalised for a foul on Tom Silke when having a goal disallowed three minutes earlier, there was no defender near enough to impede as Byrne collected Jim Crawford's through ball to volley past Mick Dempsey.

Ollie Cahill allowed Longford back into the match almost immediately when he tripped Alan Kirby to concede a penalty which visiting captain Barry Ferguson shot home off a post.

Shelbourne's defending stood indicted again 10 minutes before the break as they came to within a foot of falling behind. Unattended at the back post, Ferguson rose to plant a firm header narrowly wide from Kirby's corner.

Five minutes into the second half Shelbourne jumped back in front. Wes Hoolahan, on for Cahill, touched the ball to Stephen Geoghegan who, at a stretch, shot past Dempsey. But back came Longford to level again eight minutes later as Shelbourne were again found wanting from a corner. Ferguson knocked Kirby's cross down for Francis who hooked the ball into the net.

There had to be a sting in the tail and four minutes from time Mick Demspey couldn't hold a header from Richie Baker and Gannon was quickest to react to stab the loose ball home.

SHELBOURNE: Williams; Heary, Doherty, Gannon, Crawley; R. Baker, Morgan, Crawford, Cahill (Hoolahan 35 mins.); Byrne, Geoghegan (G. McCarthy 78 mins.).

LONGFORD TOWN: Dempsey; Dillon, Ferguson, Silke (Foley 91 mins.), John; Kirby, Sheridan, Perth (Keogh 78 mins.), Byrne; Lavine, Francis.

Referee: J Feighery (Dublin).