Peamount United took a massive leap forward in a thrilling title race with a thrilling 1-0 win at a sun-soaked Tolka Park.
The visitors stretched their lead at the top thanks to an excellent first half Sadhbh Doyle header in a thrilling, high quality and end-to-end encounter.
But it was The Peas who emerged victorious in a hotly contested Dublin Derby, enacting revenge on the only side to beat them this season - that 4-1 defeat in Greenogue in the reverse fixture.
Rachel Graham set the tone for the home side determined to retain their title with a crashing tackle on Rebecca Watkins just a few seconds in.
The visitors welcomed back Irish International starlet Tara O'Hanlon from suspension and the all action full-back was straight into the action showing tremendous pace to get on the cover and deny Jemma Quinn a clear run on goal, having been played through by Nadine Clare.
The hosts made most of the early running and were unlucky not to take the lead when Christie Gray’s powerful strike went across goal, narrowly missing the top corner.
But James O’Callaghan’s charges showed just why they are leading the chasing pack as they weathered the early storm and took the lead with a quarter of an hour gone.
Erin McLoughlin showed excellent quick feet on the edge of the area to fashion a strike on goal but was deflected wide. And from the resulting corner Sadhbh Doyle, fresh from her match winning double at home to Galway United, found a yard of space in a crowded area to head home.
Having composed themselves from the early set back, Shels thought they grabbed an equaliser following a slightly bizarre goalmouth scramble. Leah Doyle’s initial deflected cross took a strangely high bounce in front of Niamh Reid-Burke as she came to collect, seeing the ball loop over her head. Megan Smyth-Lynch rose highest to head towards goal but saw her header hit the inside of the post and eventually cleared off the line by Jessica Fitzgerald.
Both sides were going blow for blow in a breathless first half, and set pieces began to look like an achilles heel for the home side. Chloe Moloney guided a beautiful header on target only to be denied by Maggie Pierce clearing off the line.
Shels went straight down the other end and Christie Gray’s clever slide rule pass to Quinn was bravely blocked by Reid-Burke just as Shels number nine pulled the trigger.
Shels came flying out of the traps following the restart, knowing a defeat in such a congested season could leave their title hopes hanging by a thread. Noelle Murray dropped deep to craftily play in speedster Gray but the winger dragged her shot agonisingly wide of the post.
The ding-dong nature of the game continued when minutes later Erin McLoughlin took advantage of a sloppy back pass, rounded Courtney Maguire but saw her goal bound strike cleared off the line by the recovering Leah Doyle.
With time running out the hosts threw everything forward but were met by a rigid and well organised green wall. But substitute Siobhan Killeen cleverly breached the rearguard when she dinked a delightful ball into the box finding Murray, who had beaten the Peas offside trap, but saw her header brilliantly turned around the post by the cat-like reflexes of Reid-Burke at full stretch.
But it was the visitors who held firm and extended their lead over Shels to six points in what could be a pivotal moment in the title race.
Shelbourne FC: Courtney Maguire, Keeva Keenan, Maggie Pierce, Jessie Stapleton, Leah Doyle, Christie Gray (Siobhan Killeen, 63'), Nadine Clare (Kayla Hamric, 82’), Rachel Graham (Hannah Healy, 63’), Megan Smyth-Lynch, Noelle Murray, Jemma Quinn (Sophie Watters, 82’)
Subs not used: Amanda McQuillan, Katie Keane, Taylor White, Leah Riley, Kate O’Dowd
Peamount United: Niamh Reid-Burke, Lauryn O’Callaghan, Chloe Maloney, Jetta Berill, Tara O’Hanlon, Karen Duggan, Jessica Fitzgerald, Sadhbh Doyle, Erin McLoughlin, Rebecca Watkins (Ellen Dolan, 68’), Kate Mooney (Avril Brierley, 86’)
Subs not used: Niamh Coombes, Louise Masterson, Orlagh Fitzpatrick, Rachel McGrath, Shannon Thomas, Sarah Duke Power, Freya Healy
Shamrock Rovers remain hot on Peamount's heels though after a hard-fought 2-1 win over Galway United.
Rovers pushed hard for an opener in Tallaght but were left furstrated until just before the interval when captain Aine O’Gorman’s low finish gave them an interval advantage.
That lead was doubled in the 49th minute through Abbie Larkin, but Galway pulled one back through Gemma McGuinness after a lovely flick over the top by Lynsey McKey, but they couldn’t find an equaliser.
Cork City’s search for their first league win of the season continues as they went down by two goals at home to Wexford Youths.
The visitors took the lead in the 37th minute when Alix Mendez turned into her own net, and Wexford sealed the points eight minutes from time as Emily Corbet struck after the away side had absorbed some Cork pressure.
DLR Waves and Bohemians played out a 0-0 draw.
Michele Doonan had a few chances for the home side while Lisa Murphy and Niamh Prior went closes for Bohs.
In the late game, Athlone Town went goal crazy as they defeated Treaty United 7-0.
They led 2-0 at the break, Gillian Keenan with both – the first a beautifully placed header – and added five more after the interval through five different players.
Dana Scheriff started that run in the 58th minute, Chloe Singleton making it 4-0 three minutes later.
Scarlett Herron got in on the act in the 64th minute with Kellie Brennan also on target in the 69th minute before substitute Hazel Donegan rounded off the scoring.
