Shelbourne showed they mean business in regaining their title as landed an early blow in what promises to be of the tightest title races in recent history as the Reds emerged 2-0 with an impressive victory over reigning Champions Peamount United.
With a slight question mark over the game going ahead due to heavy rainfall, thankfully for the big crowd in Greenogue, the titanic tussle between last season's top two was given the thumbs up following an earlier pitch inspection.
Games between the two Dublin rivals have served up some thrilling encounters in recent times and this was no different as they served up a high quality clash in less than favourable conditions at times , as Keeva Keenan and Kerri Letmons strikes in either half proved enough to take all three points back to Tolka Park.
Having been held in their season opener at home to Sligo Rovers the impressive Shels side, under the tutelage of their new boss Eoin Wearen, looked dangerous from the off with Noelle Murray proving a thorn in the side of the hosts with excellent hold up play and clever runs in behind.
And it took visitors less than a quarter of an hour to get in front when Keenan raced in behind the Peas high-line and showed great composure to power past Niamh Reid-Burke.
As expected the Champions, off the back of a 2-0 win on the road in Cork last week, responded well with both Erin McLaughlin and skipper Karen Duggan have efforts bravely blocked and following a classy one-two between Erica Burke and Ellen Dolan, Shels stopper Amanda McQuillan was forced to sharply deny the latter from close range as Dolan.
In a thrilling end-to-end clash with both sides going blow for blow, it was the visitors turn to go close when Keenan was agonisingly close to getting her second as she got on the end of a whipped Leah Doyle cross from the left side but could only guide her first time volley narrowly over.
Roma McLoughlin, who suffered an injury scare on the stroke of half time, made a quick recovery over the break and had the first shot in anger of the second half driving low from the edge of the box straight at Reid-Burke as the pace showed no sign of slowing.
The PFAI young player of the year Jess Fitzgerald, fresh from her first senior International call up, began to see more of the ball as the hosts tried desperately to get back in the game. Ellen Dolan was unlucky to see her downward header narrowly miss the foot of the post from Fitzgerald's deep cross as the frustration around PRL Park began to grow.
Just after the hour mark the Peas began to really ramp up the pressure and thought they were level only to be denied by some incredible McQuillan reactions as another quality Fitzgerald seemed to evade everyone in the area, looked destined for the top corner only for the Shels keeper to claw it to safety at the last second.
From the resulting corner Irish International McLoughlin somehow failed to take advantage of McQuillans spill, somehow managing to scoop the ball over from close range as she looked on in disbelief.
With time ticking away the hard working Ellen Dolan was next to test the Shels stopper as she cut inside on her left foot but saw another powerful strike tipped over.
But the resolute Shels back line, screened expertly by the imperious Alex Kavanagh, held firm and sealed all three points on the break when substitute Kerri Letmons cross seemed to catch Reid-Burke off guard and sailed in.
Elsewhere, Treaty United beat DLR Waves 2-0, Shamrock Rovers and Wexford Youths drew 1-1 in Tallaght and Bohemians went down 1-0 at home to Athlone Town.
Peamount: Niamh Reid-Burke, Lauryn O’Callaghan, Jetta Berrill, Ciara Maher, Dearbhaile Beirne, Karen Duggan, Jess Fitzgerald, Erica Burke (Mia McGonnell, 40’), Erin McLaughlin, Freya Healy, Ellen Dolan
Shelbourne: Amanda McQuillan, Keeva Keenan (Kerri Letmon, 81’), Pearl Slattery, Leah Doyle, Alex Kavanagh, Noelle Murray (Jemma Quinn, 81’), Hannah Healy (Mia Dodd, 75’), Roma McLaughlin (Rebecca Devereux, 60’), Jess Gargan, Lucy O’Rourke (Christie Gray, 60’), Maggie Pierce
Referee: Paul Norton
