Two-goal Kate Mooney paved the way for SSE Airtricity League Women's Premier Division leaders Peamount United to collect all three points in a hard fought win over Cork City at Turner's Cross.
A pair of first-half strikes from Peamount’s No.19 had James O’Callaghan’s side in command at the break in the rain.
Peamount dominated the early possession but it was Cork who conjured up the two early goal chances inside the opening ten minutes.
Pacey striker Lauren Singleton had a run through on goal after four minutes but her shot was well saved by Niamh Reid Burke, and then ten minutes into the action, she fired high and wide at the St Anne’s end.
Cork were four games without a win and ten goals against but Danny Murphy’s side picked up their first point in a 1-1 draw away to Treaty United last week.
They battled well to contain the visitors whose first chance fell to Mooney and her glancing header on the end of Sadhbh Doyle’s cross carried wide of the far post.
The Dubliners came into the game with just one defeat in five matches – losing 4-1 to Dublin rivals Shelbourne - but they collected all three points here in the end.
The visitors were driven on by RTÉ analyst, Karen Duggan, the Peas’ midfield skipper who had another fine game.
And they were close to a breakthrough on 32 minutes when Jessica Fitzgerald clipped the crossbar from outside the box.
The inevitable goal arrived two minutes later when Mooney slotted low to the net past Hannah Walsh.
Peamount doubled their lead on 38 minutes when Mooney added her second forcing the ball home from Doyle’s cross.
Cork were close to a goal of their own just before the interval but Reid Burke produced a great save to deny Irish U19 star, Laura Shine. The home side did breach the visitors' defence when substitute Lauren Walsh netted with a low drive from Eva Mangan's free quarter of an hour from time.
Despite this latest defeat, it was probably City's best performance of the season so far given that they lost 7-0 to the same opposition in Cork last season in Danny Murphy's first game in charge.
Cork City: Hannah Walsh; Danielle Burke (Alix Mendez 72), Eva Mangan (capt), Shaunagh McCarthy, Aoibhin Donnelly, Laura Shine (Faye Ahern 90+), Heidi Mackin, Jesse Mendez, Niamh Cotter (Chloe Atkinson 72), Anna Costello (Lauren Walsh 63), Lauren Singleton (Christina Dring 63).
Peamount United: Niamh Reid Burke; Lauryn O’Callaghan, Dora Gorman, Chloe Moloney (Ellen Dolan 83), Rebecca Watkins, Sadhbh Doyle, Tara O’Hanlon, Jessica Fitzgerald, Karen Duggan (capt), Avril Brierley (Erin McLaughlin 73), Kate Mooney (Carla McManus 73) & Freya Healy for McManus (88).
Referee: Ian O’Keeffe (Cork)
Official attendance: 303.
Reigning double winners Shelbourne made it two wins in a row since their defeat to Galway United last month by defeating Treaty United 1-0 to stay within two points of the top.
A Noelle Murray goal on 13 minutes, which came after she followed in an Alex Kavanagh strike from distance, was enough to seal a narrow victory that keeps Noel King's side second on 13 points. The result leaves Treaty ninth in the table.
A Jaime Thompson equaliser five minutes from time saw Shamrock Rovers salvage a 1-1 draw against in-form Galway United to stay third.
Hosts Galway, who had stunned Athlone Town and Shelbourne before the international break, led through Gemma McGuinnes' 13th-minute goal until Thompson denied them victory late on.
The Hoops are four points adrift of Peamount with a game in hand, while Galway are a further point behind on 10.
Sligo Rovers remain winless and bottom after their first five games as DLR Waves defeated them 3-0.
Jessica Gleeson opened the scoring just before half-time before Sarah McKevitt and Michelle Doonan scored in the second '45.
Last season's runners-up Athlone Town won 3-1 at Wexford Youths in the evening game with Dana Scheriff scoring a second-half brace.
Muireann Devaney had given the visitors a second-minue lead but Wexford levelled through 16-time Republic of Ireland cap Rianna Jarrett after a quarter of an hour.
But Scheriff's two goals settled the contest in Athlone's favour with the midlanders up to sixth in the table, while Wexford are eighth.
