Reigning SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division champions Peamount United were forced to come from behind twice to salvage a point as they were held in a thrilling encounter against an excellent DLR Waves side at PLR Park.
Isobel Finnegan and Michelle Doonan had given the Waves the lead in each half but Ellen Dolan responded twice to ensure the spoils were shared.
With the unbeaten Shelbourne winning earlier in the day and the gap to the high-flying leaders Galway United three points at kick-off, James O'Callaghan’s charges knew they couldn’t afford a slip up as the enthralling title race continued.
Following a quite fiery start, it was the home side who threatened first with a quarter of an hour gone when Rebecca Watkins went on a mazy run, getting to the end line before cutting back to Dearbhaile Beirne who missed her kick at the vital moment.
But the visitors shocked the title holders minutes later when they got the lead from a corner-kick from Eve Conheady that caused havoc in the usually assured back line, conceding their first goal in five games in all competitions.
Peas stopper Niamh Coombes, deputising for Niamh Reid-Burke who is due to get married soon, was brave in initially denying Robyn Bolger in a one-on-one but from the resulting corner it was Finnegan that managed the head the ball down and in off the post in a congested area.
Laura Heffernan’s well drilled side have been better than results have reflected. They continued to plough forward in search of their first win of the season as the game became end to end.
Following a bout of serious pressure from the home side as the half drew to a close, they were then gifted with a glorious chance to equalise when Chloe McCarthy took down Dolan in the box.
Irish international Erin McLaughlin took responsibility from 12 yards but saw her penalty superbly saved by Rugile Auskalnyte at full stretch.
Undeterred by the miss, the Peas pressure continued and two minutes later Dolan powered home a header from a quality delivery by Irish under-19 teammate Jess Fitzgerald.
🎥 GOAL !
— LOI Women (@LoiWomen) May 25, 2024
Ellen Dolan gets Peamount back on level terms! #WLOI | #PEADLR pic.twitter.com/8dC2obR9Ls
The breathless pace continued and the hugely impressive visitors regained the lead just after the restart as they took advantage of an uncharacteristic poor touch from Karen Duggan at the back, resulting in ex-Peamount striker Michelle Doonan breaking the offside trap before smashing the ball high past the helpless Coombes.
The depleted hosts went straight down the other end and earned their second spot-kick of the game as Watkins bundled past a couple of challenges before being brought down. Dolan took over penalty duties this time and made no mistake hitting the top corner for her second of the afternoon.
The tension was palpable as the game entered the final quarter of a hour with the visitors living up to their name halting wave after wave of Peamount attacks, and they went agonisingly close themselves to regaining the lead for the third time but Coombes managed to touch Doonan's strike from point-blank range around the post.
Both sides had chances to snatch it but a point a piece was probably fair on the balance of play.
Peamount United: Niamh Coombes, Lauryn O’Callaghan, Chloe Moloney, Rebecca Watkins, Erin McLaughlin, Jess Fitzgerald, Ellen Dolan, Karen Duggan, Dearbhaile Beirne, Avril Brierly (Louise Masterson, 74’), Ciara Maher
DLR Waves: Rugile Auskalnyte, Chloe McCarthy, Jessica Gleeson, Isobel Finnegan, Nadine Seward (Freya Roche, 26’), Amber Cosgrove, Robyn Bolger (Taylor White, Michelle Doonan, Eve Conheady, Cliodhna Donnelly (Rebecca McMahon, 73’), Keelin Dodd
Referee: Ian O’Keefe
Galway United maintained their stranglehold at the top of the table with a hard-fought win at Shamrock Rovers.
A tight, tense contest was decided six minutes before half-time when Eve Dossen knocked home a cross from a few yards out.
The Hoops pushed hard for a leveller but they could not breach the visitors' defence, with Phil Trill's charges taking three big points back west.
Earlier, Shelbourne stormed past Cork City at Tolka Park, easing to a 5-1 victory.
The hosts enjoyed the perfect start when Rebecca Devereux fired them ahead in the second minute. Devereux doubled the Reds' lead on 15 minutes when she calmly slotted past Clodagh Fitzgerald after capitalising on some hesitant defending.
Colleen Kennedy O'Connell halved the deficit three minutes later with a fine effort for Cork, but Shels regained total control of the contest when Noelle Murray lashed home a third ten minutes before the break.
Eabha O'Mahony drilled home a 59th-minute strike that sealed the win, with Alex Kavanagh putting the icing on the cake from the penalty spot 16 minutes from time.
FAI Women's Cup holders Athlone Town were 2-0 winners at Sligo Rovers thanks to Casey Howe goals in each half.
The result lifts Athlone up to third in the table while the home side are level on three points with bottom side DLR Waves.
Wexford FC dug out a 2-1 win against Treaty United at Ferrycarrig Park.
Aoibheann Clancy broke the deadlock in the 61st minute with a fine effort, but Caleigh Boeckx just four moinutes later when she slotted hoem from close range.
The veteran Kylie Murphy swung it back Wexford's way with a super 72nd-minute header and that's how it stayed.
