Shamrock Rovers and Athlone Town played out a dramatic 1-1 draw in a heavyweight clash of two undoubted SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division title challengers that saw the visitors play the final 20 minutes with 10 players.
There was only one place to be as the Ruesha Littlejohn show rolled into town, with the build-up to the titanic tussle dominated by the arrival of the Irish International to Tallaght Stadium.
The 87-time capped midfielder went straight into the Hoops starting 11 in place of Melissa O'Kane, the only change to the side that came from behind to snatch a late win at Tolka Park last weekend.
But the champions were in no mood to play a supporting role and were boosted by the return of their international stars, including Madie Gibson, who all received clearance having signed professional contracts, after missing out on the opening day win at home to Wexford.
Colin Fortune’s side had the cleanest opening and were just 10 minutes in when Roisin Molloy burst down the right wing and delivered a low cross towards the edge of the box. The unmarked Katherine O’Sullivan raced onto the ball but failed to make sufficient contact and saw the chance dissipate.
This sparked the home side into life and with less than a quarter of an hour played the star of the show, Littlejohn, took centre stage and bent an outstanding free kick around the wall and into the top corner to break the deadlock.
The hosts almost doubled their lead when Littlejohn’s former Irish teammate Áine O’Gorman stole the ball from Israela Groves in a dangerous position. The Rovers attacker twisted and turned her way inside the area but failed to trouble Megan Plaschko, having fashioned a yard of space.
But the visitors remained undeterred and continued to look dangerous out wide. Molloy again delivered a whipped cross that former Town stopper Katie Keane failed to deal with. The ball fell just behind Gibson, who did well to wrap her foot around the first-time strike, but saw the ball fly narrowly wide with the goal at her mercy.
Just before the break Fortune’s charges got themselves back on level terms, finally converting from another dangerous cross. This time it was the turn of Gibson, finding former Ireland under-19 star Kelly Brady who took a delightful first touch to turn and smash home from close range for her second goal in as many games.
Minutes after the restart, goal scorer almost turned provider when Brady flicked the ball over the top for Gibson to race clear, but just as the American was about to pull the trigger, Maria Reynolds appeared as if from nowhere to cut out the danger.
The breathless encounter continued to deliver in a case of who would blink first, and net up was the classy Joy Ralph who latched on to a long through ball before getting too much on her attempted lob.
There was drama minutes later when Kellie Brennan received her marching orders having brought down Ralph who was goal side in the area. Hoops Skipper O’Gorman took responsibility but saw her spot kick brilliantly saved low down to her left by the outstretched Plaschko.
The 10-players held on brilliantly and battled bravely to get over the line with a share of the spoils probably fair upon the balance of play.
Shamrock Rovers: Katie Keane; Fiona Owens, Scarlett Herron, Maria Reynolds, Aoife Brophy; Ruesha Littlejohn, Jamie Thompson (Melissa O’Kane, 86’); Emily Corbet (Anna Butler, 76’), Aine O’Gorman, Joy Ralph; Katie O’Reilly (Ella Kelly, 46’)
Athlone Town: Megan Plaschko; Kelly Brennan, Kayleigh Shine, Natalie McNally, Shauna Brennan; Roisin Molloy (Ciara O’Neill, 79’), Katherine Sullivan, Hanna Waesch, Israela Groves, Madison Gibson; Kelly Brady
Elsewhere Shelbourne had to be patient before eventually sweeping past Waterford 4-0 at the RSC.
The division's newest arrivals showed real spirit to keep the Reds at bay in the opening half, though they had to ride their luck.
Shels won a peno on 26 minutes when Roma McLaughlin was fouled, but keeper Maeve Williams superbly denied Noelle Murray.
The breakthrough finally came in the 64th minute after Mackenzie Anthony headed home from a corner. Leah Doyle made it two three minutes later, her corner going straight in.
It was done and dusted six minutes later as Roma McLaughlin tucked away a spot-kick, with the visitors winning – and missing - a third peno soon after, Williams again saving Murray's shot.
It mattered little, however. Pearl Slattery converted from a corner soon after to wrap up Shelbourne's first win of the season.
Galway United continued their excellent start to the campaign as they beat Bohemians 3-1 at Dalymount Park.
Hannah Healy gave Bohs a dream start when she scored with less than a minute on the clock. But Galway were level by the fifth minute through Ceola Bergin, and further strikes in the second period from Kate Thompson (58) and Isabella Beletic (74) sealed the points.
Treaty United also picked up their second victory on the bounce, coming away from DLR Waves with a 2-0 win. Bella Flocchini finished from a right angle seven minutes before the break, and Jillian O'Toole made the points safe with a 74th-minute strike.
Cork City enjoyed an emphatic 4-0 success against Sligo Rovers at Turner’s Cross.
Christina Dring put them ahead on 19 minutes and she doubled the advantage six minutes later, charging down an attempted clearance before surging forward, rounding the keeper and tapping home.
Two more goals on the turnaround from Aoibhinn Donnelly (63') and Ciara Fitzpatrick (66') wrapped it up.
In the final clash of the day, Wexford edged past Peamount United 1-0 at Ferrycarrig park.
A very tight game was settled by Becky Cassin's 56th-minute free-kick that took a nick off a defender's head and skipped home.
