Even if Shelbourne don't win the league this is one victory the Tolka Park faithful will recall warmly in years to come. Trailing 2-0 at half-time a second successive defeat looked on the cards; but the home side responded brilliantly and three goals in the space of five minutes - two of them from striker Stephen Geoghegan - earned them a richly deserved win.

Shelbourne's manager Damian Richardson had stressed the importance of bouncing back from last week's defeat at the hands of St Patrick's but with Geoghegan squandering excellent goal chances as early as the first and fifth minutes the Dublin side looked in trouble again.

Finn Harps on the other hand were growing in confidence and took the lead somewhat against the run of play in the 15th minute when Sammy Johnston latched onto James Mulligan's lay off on the edge of the box to drive the ball to the top left corner.

Two minutes before half-time the visitors looked to have wrapped it all up. Full back Mick Neville appeared to have the situation under control but his weak backpass to Alan Gough allowed Jonathan Speak to round the stranded keeper and put the ball into an empty net.

Shelbourne lifted their game considerably in the second half and when Geoghegan headed home Dessie Baker's cross in the 55th minute the floodgates opened. One minute later a copycat move saw Geoghegan just fail to connect with Baker's cross only for Mark Rutherford to come in and finish it off at the back post.

With Finn Harps' frustration understandably rising Stuart Gauld was booked for a foul on Rutherford three minutes later. The inswinging free was flicked on to Geoghegan who squeezed it past the advancing Byrne. A couple of minutes later the striker could have got his hat-trick but his volley from the edge of the box flashed just wide of the upright.

Geoghegan, however, was stretchered off injured two minutes from the end and Gauld's dismissal for that tackle was the only black spot on a marvellous night's entertainment.

Shelbourne: A Gough, M Neville, T McCarthy, P Scully, G Costello, D Campbell, D Baker, T Sheridan, M Rutherford, P Fenlon, S Geoghegan. Subs: L Kelly for S Geoghegan (88 mins), D Smith for D Baker (92 mins).

Finn Harps: J Byrne, J G McGettigan, J Minnock, D Boyle, D Dowling, D O'Brien, P McGrenaghan, S Johnston, J Speak, J Mulligan, S Gauld. Subs: G Callaghan for J Mulligan (71 mins).

Referee: J O'Reilly (Dublin).