TWO GOAL Karl Sheppard was the hero as Shamrock Rovers regained their place at the top of the Premier Division with a late winner at Bray Wanderers.

The in-form striker grabbed a dramatic 89th minute winner to deny Bray Wanderers a draw at a windswept Carlisle Grounds.

The Hoops are now one point ahead of  Sligo Rovers with a match in hand. Michael O'Neill's team are also five points ahead of third placed Derry City who they meet at Talllaght Stadium on Thursday night.

Rovers had the perfect start when  Sheppard gave them the lead after seven minutes. A cross from defender Pat Sullivan on the right allowed Chris Turner to get in a header that was parried onto the bar by 'keeper Darren Quigley. From the rebound striker Sheppard twisted in mid-air to nod home from close range.

The visitors might have stretched their lead when Sheppard found the unmarked Gary Twigg only for the striker's effort to rebound off defender Shane O'Connor to safety.

Gary McCabe produced a bit of trickery on the right on 35 minutes before sending over a cross which enabled Twigg to get in a header just inches wide of the target.

Bray did have a chance of an equaliser just before the interval when skipper Gary Dempsey sent over a cross from the right only for Danny O'Connor's header to be well gathered by 'keeper Richard Brush.

Rovers again threatened on 55 minutes when McCabe cut in from the left and squared the ball to Billy Dennehy only for the winger to fire an effort just wide from the edge of the box.

The Seagulls were level on 64 minutes after a foul by Ronan Finn on Dean Zambra. The resulting low free by skipper Gary Dempsey from 30 yards found its way through the Rovers defence without any player getting a touch before the ball entered the net.

Rovers were desperately unlucky not to take the lead on 78 minutes when McCabe picked up a loose ball in midfield to let fly from 35 yards. With keeper Quigley beaten, the ball rebounded off the upright and away to safety.

Then came that dramatic late winner from Sheppard with a near post header after a precision cross from the right by substitute Ciaran Kilduff. 

BRAY WANDERERS: Quigley; Doyle, S.O'Connor (Knight 71), Shields (Webster 35), Massey; Zambra, Dempsey, D.O'Connor, Waters, Mulroy; Murphy (Shaw 45).

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Brush; Sullivan, Sives, Murray, Paterson; Dennehy (Ricketts 71), Finn, Turner (Rice 90), McCabe (Kilduff 81); Twigg, Sheppard.

REFEREE: D Mckeon (Dublin).