Slick City answer critics and regain top spot

Cork City 2 Shelbourne 1

Written off in many quarters for not having the strength in depth to defend their title, City defied their critics with a superb team performance full of courage, discipline and no little flair to edge out their greatest of rivals for the second time this season.

Shelbourne enjoyed enough possession to at least fashion a draw, but praise must be bequeathed upon the City players, especially their back four, which has an air of invincibility about them at this crucial juncture of the season.