A big crowd at a chilly PRL Park were treated to an enthralling clash between two of the WNL heavyweights in a real ding-dong battle.
With four teams within three points of each other going into this weekend's penultimate round of fixtures, this clash between first-placed Wexford Youths and third-placed Peamount promised to be a mouthwatering encounter and it certainly lived up to its billing.
In a rip-roaring start worthy of the occasion, it was the hosts who looked to move the ball quicker in the opening stages. However, it was the league leaders who caught the hosts cold, drawing first blood after just four minutes.
Skipper Kylie Murphy played a clever through ball behind the Peas defence, who failed to clear their lines on a couple of occasions, allowing livewire Jess Lawlor to pounce to put her side ahead.
The visitors could sense blood and pushed for a second. Lawlor again was quick to pick up a loose ball in the middle of the park and hit an early strike from distance in an attempt to catch Niamh Reid-Burke off her line before Murphy hit the side-netting.
Peamount's Aine O’Gorman looked to wrestle the momentum back in her side's favour, showing great feet to cut inside, but she saw her powerful strike fly just wide of the near post.
There were worrying scenes just after the half-hour mark when Youths defender Della Doherty collided with O’Gorman on the touchline, the defender seeming to come off worse with what looked like a horrible knee injury.
After a lengthy delay. and the sad sight of the unfortunate Doherty leaving on the stretcher, Youths were hit with another blow as the hosts got themselves back on level terms.
As the teams entered the 16 minutes of added time, Chloe Maloney steered home a brilliant header from a dangerously whipped O’Hanlon corner to make it 1-1 at the break.
James O'Callaghan's Peamount side came flying out of the traps in the second half, knowing a draw wasn’t good enough to keep their title aspirations alive, and ten minutes in they got themselves back in front.
The excellent O’Hanlon worked wonders down the left and her cross caused all sorts of trouble in the Youths area, forcing an own goal.
Not to be deterred from the fast start, the visitors showed they’re made of stern stuff getting themselves back on level terms just after the hour mark.
Kylie Murphy netted her 12th goal of the season when she found herself free at the back post to convert Ciara Rossitor’s deep free-kick.
Both sides were going blow for blow entering the final quarter of an hour of this unrelenting clash, and it was anyone’s game.
Peamount looked to hit back straight away when Erin McLaughlin smashed the crossbar from distance and as the ball bounced, it fell to the feet of Stephanie Roche who saw her powerful strike bravely saved by Maeve Williams.
With ten minutes remaining, Peamount got their noses back in front when Sadhbh Doyle was on hand to head home from O’Gorman’s left footed cross.
The fanatical crowd were treated to yet more drama as the game entered the dying embers though.
Just as the clock ticked into the 90th minute, Youths nabbed a draw when a slick move was finished by substitute Aine Walsh who showed tremendous composure to coolly slot the ball low under the onrushing Reid-Burke.
In what will be a spectacular final day of the season, Youths will now host Shels at Ferrycarrig Park next Saturday in a straight shootout for the title, but if that ends a draw and Athlone overcome Bohemians at Dalymount, then there'll be a playoff between Shelbourne and Athlone for the right to be crowned Champions
Peamount United: Niamh Reid-Burke, Lauren O’Callaghan, Grace Maloney, Jetta Berill, Sadhbh Doyle, Stephanie Roche (Alannah McEvoy, 75), Aine O’Gorman, Karen Duggan, Dearbhaile Beirne, Tara O’Hanlon, Erin McLaughlin.
Wexford Youths: Maeve Williams, Orlaith Conlon, Della Doherty (Meabh Russell, 45), Kylie Murphy, Edel Kennedy, Beckie Watkins, Ciara Rossiter, Jess Lawler (Lauren Dwyer, 80), Nicola Sinnott, Aoibheann Clancy, Emma Walker (Aine Walsh, 66).
Shelbourne 2-0 Sligo Rovers
Shelbourne will know that a draw in Wexford next week will be enough for the title after their 2-0 win over Sligo Rovers.
Shels made a fast start at Tolka Park with Abbie Larkin putting them ahead after just three minutes after a good burst down the right from defender Jessica Gargan, the attacker flicking home at the near post.
That's how it stayed until half time, and Sligo took heart with that as they came out string at the start of the second half with Paula McGrory going close with a header.
Shelbourne stood firm though and it was Larkin who settled the issue seven minutes from time at the second attempt. After racing through and seeing her first effort repelled by Amy Mahon, she kept her composure to finish to the corner to seal the win.
Athlone Town 1-0 Galway
Athlone can still win the title thanks to a 1-0 win over Galway.
It will need something special though, most notably a draw between Wexford and Shelbourne in the final fixture. If that happens, and they defeat Bohemians, they’ll enter into a play-off with the Dublin side.
They didn’t have it all their own way with Galway starting the bright of the two sides, but the Town soon settled.
The only goal of the game arrived in the 24th minute as Muireann Devanney drilled low to the corner after the ball bobbled around the box.
Athlone had suffered a blow in the first half as goalkeeper Niamh Coombes had to come off injured, but substitute Bonnie McKiernan was able to keep a clean sheet after a brilliant save from Julie-Ann Russell.
DLR Waves 7-0 Treaty United
DLR Waves racked up seven goals as bottom side Treaty United fell to another heavy defeat.
Kate Mooney headed home Sarah McKevitt’s corner to open the scoring in the seventh minute before Nicola Keogh grabbed her first goal for the club from long-range.
Katie Malone scrambled home a third to leave it 3-0 at the break and Mooney grabbed her second shortly after the restart with an emphatic finish.
Shauna Carroll grabbed their fifth after Michaela Mitchell with Carla McManus before McManus and Kerri Letmon added strikes in additional time.
Cork City 0-1 Bohemians
Bohemians may have left it late, but they left Cork with all three points thanks to a last-gasp strike from Abbie Brophy.
Sinead Taylor had rattled the crossbar for the away side in the first half and Rachael Doyle went close, while Laura Shine was causing problems at the other end.
But it was left to Brophy, left in an acre of space on the right, to break the deadlock as the clock ticked towards 90 – her effort blocked by goalkeeper Abby McCarthy but still finding the net.
