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Summer football arrived with a bang on Leeside as Cork City, fielding an all-local side, threw an early spanner in the works of title favourites Shelbourne before a delighted attendance of 5,000 at a bright and sunny Turner's Cross.
It was a remarkable performance from a Cork side scarcely helped by the absence of six first-teamers due to suspension and injury.
Manager Liam Murphy had little option other than to give debuts to three young locals on their return from England: John O'Flynn, George O'Callaghan and Dave Warren, and the former two played crucial roles in setting up Cork's 2-0 interval lead with a goal each.
O'Flynn then capped a man-of-the-match display with the third strike late on.
With starts for their four chief new signings - David Crawley, Stuart Byrne, Ollie Cahill who has returned to his old stomping ground, and striker Trevor Molloy, reigning champions Shelbourne had no such selection problems.
After a lively start, however, Pat Fenlon, on his competitive managerial debut, soon realised his side were in trouble as Cork took the game to them.
The opening goal came on 15 minutes as two new signings combined to perfection. Lively 19-year-old O'Flynn did the spade work out wide on the right to get in a low cross and O'Callaghan turned the ball home with his right foot.
Shelbourne, virtually at full strength, had started well with Davy Byrne volleying over inside the first minute. But Cork settled and showed all the initiative and they were good value for their 2-0 interval lead, their second goal came on 44 minutes.
And a fine solo effort it was from O'Flynn, who collected the ball 30 yards out, turned one way, then the other, before curling a low shot past Steve Williams.
It continued to go wrong for Shelbourne into the second half, with Molloy being shown a red card on 49 minutes for appearing to strike Cork defender Gareth Cronin.
Just minutes later Shelbourne, totally out of sorts, almost found themselves further behind. Again it was City's slick front two who caused the difficulties for the disorganised Shelbourne defence. O'Flynn knocked the ball down and O'Callaghan shot over the top.
Despite the excitement of the home crowd it was a game of few real chances.
But perhaps the best move of the match deserved a goal on 72 minutes. O'Callaghan took a quick free kick down the left to put full-back Neal Horgan away.
O'Flynn raced to the near post, but his flick from Horgan's cross was into the side netting
City's deserved the final say and they got it on 77 minutes; Colin O'Brien split the Shelbourne defence for O'Flynn to run in and score his well-taken second goal of the night.
Cork City: Devine; Carey, Cronin, Napier, Horgan; Colin T O'Brien, Bennett, O'Callaghan, Mulconry; O'Flynn, Warren.
Shelbourne: Williams; Heary, Prenderville, Doherty (Gannon 76), Crawley; R Baker (Houlihan 83), S Byrne, D Byrne, Cahill; Molloy, Geoghegan (Roberts 79).
Referee: H Byrne (Dublin).
