A late, late show from Noelle Murray saw Shelbourne take a huge stride in their quest for a first Women's National League title in five years as they saw off the challenge of Peamount United at Tolka Park.
The Cabra native volleyed home in the fifth minute of injury time as Noel King’s side moved three points clear at the top at the expense of the champions.
A Saoirse Noonan double and one from Emily Whelan sent Shels on their way but goals from Eleanor Ryan Doyle, Aine O’Gorman and Tiegan Ruddy looked to have salvaged a point for Peas.
Up popped Murray moments later, however, to fire the home side to a deserved victory in what was a pulsating and action-packed encounter between the two best sides in the country.
Shelbourne were 2-0 up within ten minutes as Noonan, a winter signing from Cork City, netted twice against the shellshocked visitors.
First, the striker rose highest to nod home Rachel Graham’s left-wing cross and, shortly afterwards, took Jess Ziu’s pass in stride before slotting home.
Ziu may have trebled the lead shortly after only for Niamh Reid-Burke to get a hand to her attempted chip, while Megan Smyth-Lynch twice went close for Peas.
The league’s top scorer, Ryan Doyle, was denied by the crossbar as half time approached as her spectacular volley beat keeper Amanda Budden but not the woodwork.
From the loose ball, Sadhbh Doyle regathered before being tripped, and this time Ryan Doyle was successful from 12 yards.
The second half was equally as eventful, and Shels restored their two-goal cushion as Whelan took Ciara Grant’s pass, cut in from the left and powered a shot past Reid-Burke.
Captain O’Gorman pulled one back from close range before, in injury time, sub Ruddy saw her free kick roll all the way into the corner of the net.
Shels had been denied what looked a clear penalty moments earlier as Whelan was felled in the box, and King was sent to the stands for his protests.
His fury was short-lived, however, as Murray was played through in the fifth minute of added time and volleyed calmly past the helpless keeper.
Shelbourne: Amanda Budden; Jess Gargan, Pearl Slattery, Jessie Stapleton, Rachel Graham; Jamie Finn, Ciara Grant, Noelle Murray; Jess Ziu, Emily Whelan, Saoirse Noonan.
Peamount United: Niamh Reid-Burke; Lauryn O’Callaghan, Claire Walsh, Della Doherty (Tiegan Ruddy 78), Deirbhaile Beirne (Alannah McEvoy 58); Karen Duggan, Lucy McCartan, Sadhbh Doyle; Eleanor Ryan Doyle, Megan Smyth-Lynch (Becky Watkins 58), Aine O’Gorman.
Elsewhere, Becky Cassin's 19th minute strike was enough to give Cork City a 1-0 win over Bohemians.
A brace from Katie Malone was enough to give DLR Waves a 2-0 win away to Galway WFC in Eamonn Deacy Park. The first goal, on 11 minutes, arrived after a clearance ricocheted off her and into the net, the second a header with 14 remaining.
