Shamrock Rovers maintained their league hoodoo over Shelbourne – who still haven't beaten The Hoops since their return to the Women's Premier Divison – coming from behind to snatch a dramatic late 2-1 win at Tolka Park.
Shelbourne, full of confidence from their President's Cup triumph a week ago, got the dream start taking the lead after just 60 seconds.
The rampaging Leah Doyle raced down the left, delivering a whipped cross to the back post, finding debutant Rebecca Cooke, who cleverly guided the ball back across goal for Kate Mooney to head home.
A feisty and frenetic opening period with a real Derby feel saw both teams go close.
Emily Corbet swung in a beautiful floated ball to her opposite winger Joy Ralph, but the Irish youth international saw her header narrowly miss the bottom corner.
Another flowing Reds move from back to front again saw Doyle deliver a pinpoint cross, but on this occasion Mooney failed to hit the target under serious pressure from Maria Reynolds.
The hosts, missing midfield maestro Alex Kavanagh, were under the cosh following the restart but the combination of aggression and composure of Shels centre-backs Pearl Slattery and Keeva Keenan kept the Shamrock Rovers attack at bay.
Collie O’Neills side were down four players who were away with Ireland Under-17’s, but went agonisingly close to equalising when Ralph again narrowly missed the target with a low strike from the edge of the area
Confusion reigned around Tolka Park when the home side thought they had doubled their lead. Cooke’s ball in from the right saw Mooney and Rovers stopper Katie Keane collide. The ball fell kindly to Noelle Murray, who finished well but after a few seconds of celebrating, referee Glen Geraghty pointed to a free out.
To their credit, the visitors kept plugging away and with just over a quarter of an hour remaining got themselves back on level terms.
Amanda McQuillan rose highest to claim a cross, but under a barrage of pressure seemed to bundle the ball over her own line, with Katie O’Reilly in the mix looking for the final touch.
With both sides throwing everything at each other in the relentless final stages, and looking like they couldn’t be separated, up popped Fiona Owens free on the righthand side of the area and with 30 seconds remaining, coolly slotted past McQuillan to snatch a huge three points.
Shelbourne: Amanda McQuillan; Jess Gargan, Pearl Slattery, Keeva Keenan, Leah Doyle (Rebecca Devereux 80’), ; Roma McLoughlin, Rachel Graham (Gabriella Del Pico, 80’), Aoibheann Clancy, Rebecca Cooke (Jemma Quinn, 69’); Noelle Murray, Kate Mooney (Lucy O’Rourke, 69’).
Subs not used: Mackenzie Anthony, Madeleine McKinley, Abigail Bradshaw.
Shamrock Rovers: Katie Keane; Fiona Owens, Scarlett Herron, Maria Reynolds, Aoife Brophy; Melissa O’Kane (, Jamie Thompson; Emily Corbet (Keelin Comiskey, 89’) Aine O’Gorman, Joy Ralph; Katie O’Reilly.
Subs not used: Summer Lawless, Hannah Martin, Nicole Fox, Robyn Gleeson, Anna Hegarty, Ciara Jane Whyte.
Elsewhere, champions Athlone Town got off to a winning start, with a 2-0 victory over Wexford FC courtesy of first half goals from Isabel Ryan and Kelly Brady.
Competition aristocrats Peamount United also recorded a 2-0 win in their opener, with two goals in the opening 15 minutes from Ellen Dolan and Becky Watkins enough to account for Cork City in Greenogue.
Peamount are ahead!
— LOI Women (@LoiWomen) March 8, 2025
A Jess Fitzgerald assist and an Ellen Dolan finish, how many times will we be saying that this season? 🤩 pic.twitter.com/XJEKNrXev6
Out west, Galway United overcame a half-time deficit to blitz DLR Waves 5-1 after a whirlwind second period. Amber Cosgrove's strike had the visitors in front at the break but Galway were a team transformed after the break.
Emma Doherty turning things around in Galway, literally 😅
— LOI Women (@LoiWomen) March 8, 2025
The hosts lead DLR 2-1! pic.twitter.com/riXeY0IutA
A brace apiece from Alison Meaney and Emma Doherty, plus another from Amanda Smith saw last year's third placed side get off to a stellar start.
Goals in either half from Katie Lawlee and Isabella Flocchini propelled Treaty United to a 2-0 win over Waterford FC in the all-Munster clash in Markets Field.
In the remaining Premier Division game, Sligo Rovers and Bohemians played out a scoreless draw at the Showgrounds.
