Ten player Shelbourne earned bragging rights and a huge three points in the most dramatic circumstances as Kate Mooney's late, late penalty proved the difference in a Dublin derby of the highest quality at Tolka Park.
The visitors saw their game with Galway United called off last week due to an unholy downpour that flooded Greenogue - which led to some strong comments from Phil Trill - but Peamount showed no signs of ring rust.
Peas striker Antea Guvo, who was proving a handful for the Reds rearguard as the visitors looked to disrupt the Shels build up early on.
The former Bohs player almost got a reward her hard work deserved midway through the first half as she found a yard of space just right of the goal, spinning and unleashing a powerful near post effort that was brilliantly turned behind by Amanda McQuillan.
Despite the quite patchy and sandy surface the hosts continued to move the ball well, with intricate interchanges creating space out wide. Noelle Murray went straight down the other end and saw her low left footed strike well held by Amanda Budden as the game opened up.
There was also an intriguing midfield battle developing between Irish Internationals past and present as Aoibheann Clancy, recently called up by Carla Ward, and the 35-time capped Karen Duggan tussled for midfield supremacy.
It was a tale of two volleys just before the break as former player of the year Sadhbh Doyle failed to get over her volley from just inside the area, seeing it rise over. But at the other end, the majestic Murray couldn't have caught her volley any sweeter, smashing the crossbar and floating away to safety.
The game continued at relentless pace, with a real feel of a derby, as both teams tried desperately to break the deadlock. Just after the hour mark the hosts were up in arms when Mackenzie Anthony showed great strength to hold off Mary Phillips and swing in a cross from the left. The ball seemed to bounce up awkwardly, catching Chloe Moloney on the side / under arm but despite the protestations from the home staff and support referee Arnold Hunter seemed confident in his judgement as he waved away the claims.
With a quarter of an hour remaining the tension around Tolka was palpable, with it looking more and more likely as the minus ticked away that just one goal might be enough.
That nearly came with 10-minutes remaining when the home side burst down the left Murray cleverly flicked the ball inside to Clancy. Instead of trying her luck the former Wexford midfielder played it inside once more to Leah Doyle who was unlucky not to see her powerful strike narrowly miss the near top corner.
In the dying embers the goal did eventually come but not without controversy.
Substitute Rebecca Cooke controlled a deep cross from the right wing just outside the six yard box with her back to goal and looked to be bundled over somewhat softly in a crowded area. The referee pointed straight to the spot without hesitation and with massive pressure, Mooney kept her composure to slot home from 12-yards despite Budden’s best efforts.
The enthralling wasn't done just yet as Noelle Murray received her second yellow card in the space of five minutes, somewhat harshly perhaps, as she seemed to just get the ball in a strong collision with Peas skipper Duggan.
The hosts held on for the remaining minutes to earn a hard-fought three points.
INCREDIBLE from Ruesha Littlejohn 😍 pic.twitter.com/06gnk6ewcu
— LOI Women (@LoiWomen) March 29, 2025
Galway United made it three wins out of three with a thrilling 3-2 win against Shamrock Rovers at Eamonn Deacy Park.
Abbie Callanan put the hosts ahead after five minutes when she capitalised on indecision in the Hoops' defence. Emily Corbet equalised just before the half-hour mark with a lovely first touch and finish.
Niamh Farrelly restored Galway's lead in the 43rd minute but from the tip-off, Ruesha Littlejohn pinged home a remarkable leveller.
The drama continued on the turnaround. Galway had a golden chance to go ahead in the 78th minute when Amanda Smith stood over a penalty, however Katie Keane pulled off a great stop to her left. From the resulting corner, Phil Trill's charges got their winner as Emma Doherty bundled a header into the corner.
Wexford went goal crazy at Ferrycarrig Park where they trounced Sligo Rovers 5-1.
Charlotte Cromack (18) and the evergreen Kylie Murphy (40) had Wexford two up at the break. Mairead McIntyre halved the deficit in the 63rd minute, but less than 60 seconds later Ellen Molloy restored Wexford's two-goal advantage.
The contest was over when Sligo's Amber Hardy saw red with 12 minutes to go, as Della Doherty and Aoife Kelly tagged on further goals late on to wrap up a good evening's work for Wexford.
Elsewhere in the days other early kick-offs there were plenty of goals as Treaty United overcame a first-half red card to edge to a 3-2 victory over Cork City.
Mara McCleary opened the scoring for Treaty on 27 minutes, finishing of from a neatly worked corner routine. However McCleary was shown a red card just 15 minutes later for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and she brought down Christina Dring who was through on goal.
Cork made their extra player count in the second-half as Kiera Sena levelled midway through the half before Bella Flocchini restored the Treaty lead, getting on the end of the wonderful through ball from midfield before firing home.
City levelled once again as Heidi O'Sullivan bundled the ball home from close range after Treaty failed to clear a dropping corner but with five minutes to go, Madison McGuane won the game for the hosts.
McGuane took advantage of some poor defending as she chased down a long clearance that was allowed to bounce through the defence before she rounded the goalkeeper and slotted the ball into the empty net.
Erin O'Brien scored twice in the dying minutes to give Waterford a 4-2 victory over DLR Waves.
Lauren Walsh opened the scoring for Waterford with Rachel Doyle levelling for Waves just on the stroke of half-time.
Walsh scored a second in the 59th minute before Amber Cosgrove's goal drew the sides level for the second time. However O'Brien ensured that the points would stay in Waterford as late goals in the 86th and 89th minute decided the game.
In the final game of the day, reigning champions Athlone Town went top as they beat Bohemians 2-0.
Isabel Ryan put the midlanders ahead on eight minutes when her delicate finish trickled over the line.
Aoife O'Connor put the seal on it 13 minutes from the end with cool half vollley into the bottom left corner.
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