It was honours even in a feisty derby at a windswept Tolka Park as two sides with their eyes on the SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division title cancelled each other out.
With Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers both putting their unbeaten starts to the season on the line, it was the home side that started the brighter, causing the Hoops back line serious problems with their high pressing.
Alex Kavanagh whipped in a dangerous early free-kick from the right hand side that found the head of skipper Pearl Slattery - who recently celebrated her 35th birthday - but the Reds stalwart saw her header loop just over the bar.
Ex-Reds keeper Amanda Budden was called on moments later as Leah Doyle tried her luck from distance with a well struck free-kick but the Irish International stopper showed great hands to make the ball stick and deny any chance of a follow up.
The talented visitors defended excellently, with the commanding duo of Shauna Fox and Jessica Hennessy sweeping up anything that was coming their way.
The Kavanagh-Slattery axis thought they had put their side ahead when the midfield maestro delivered yet another inviting ball to the back post. This time Sattery smashed home a volley only to see the assistant referee's flag go up for offside.
In a breathless end-to-end battle Collie O'Neill's side, looking for their first victory of the new season, were gifted a glorious opportunity to break the deadlock just after the half-hour mark. A chaotic goalmouth scramble saw the ball eventually spring up and catch the arm of the unfortunate Jess Gargan, resulting in referee Ryan Maher pointing to the spot.
As expected Rovers captain Aine O’Gorman took responsibility from 12 yards, but unfortunately for the ex-Irish international, she saw Amanda McQuillan guess the right way to brilliantly stop the powerful strike as her defence reacted quickly to clear up the danger that followed.
The relentless pace continued after the half-time break as a war of attrition developed between the two fierce Dublin rivals, who refused to give an inch anywhere on the field.
Around the hour mark the home side were dealt an unfortunate double blow losing both Kavanagh and Roma McLaughlin to injury, slightly disrupting their flow.
But following the changes, the home side eventually found their groove again and put together a free flowing move down their left hand side, ending with the tireless Christie Gray dragging her shot just wide.
The best chance of the half soon followed as Irish under-19 sensation and Shamrock Rovers March player of the month, Joy Ralph, then showed great pace to burst down the right and square to her unmarked international colleague Lia O’Leary who, with the goal at her mercy, put the ball over from close range.
Although Noelle Murray had a glorious chance to nick it at the death with a free-kick from 20 yards out, Budden was again equal to it, cleverly reading the strike and saved smartly.
Such was the fiery nature of the occasion neither side settled for the point, pushing right to the end but it was the defences who came out on top on this occasion in a highly entertaining clash in front of 313 spectators in Drumcondra.
Shelbourne: Amanda McQuillan, Keeva Keenan, Pearl Slattery, Leah Doyle, Alex Kavanagh (Rachel Graham 54), Rebecca Devereux (Jemma Quinn 62), Noelle Murray, Roma McLoughlin (Hannah Healy 62), Jess Gargan, Maggie Pierce, Christie Gray (Katie McCarn 77)
Shamrock Rovers: Amanda Budden, Shauna Fox, Jessica Hennessy, Maria Reynolds, Aoife Kelly, Stephanie Zambra (Jamie Thompson 64), Lia O’Leary, Aine O’Gorman, Joy Ralph, Scarlett Herron, Melissa O’Kane
Referee: Ryan Maher
TABLE | SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division
— LOI Women (@LoiWomen) April 13, 2024
Galway remain on top with Athlone climbing to 2nd 🙌#WLOI | #LOITV | @SportTG4 pic.twitter.com/GkUkAJWxFj
Galway United are now five points clear at the top after they hammered Bohemians 4-0 at Eamonn Deacy Park.
Goals from Rola Olusola, Lynsey McKey, Isabella Beletic and Therese Kinnevey had them four up by half-time, with Phil Trill's in-form side closing it out in a comfortable second half.
Athlone Town earned an impressive 3-1 win over reigning champions Peamount United.
Ellen Dolan put the Peas ahead in the 15th minute with a well-taken penalty, but Casey Howe coolly slotted home an equaliser two minutes before the break.
Madie Gibson knocked home another for Athlone in the 63rd minute after Howe's brilliant effort cannoned off the bar, and Howe then wrapped it up with a sumptuous 84th-minute chip.
DLR Waves and Cork City drew 1-1 at the UCD Bowl. The Leesiders broke the deadlock on 12 minutes through Laura Shine, but with 13 minutes to go, Eve O'Brien earned her side a point.
In the day's other game, Treaty United and Sligo Rovers drew 0-0.
