Athlone Town and Galway United played out a battling draw in a high-quality affair at The Athlone Town Stadium as the reigning champions saw their lead at the top cut to just two points.
Kelly Brady was credited with the opener in the first half, as her deflected header set her side on their way to what would have been their third win over Galway United, but a spirited second half saw an Aislinn Meaney stunner earn a deserved point on the road.
It didn't take long for the champions to exert their dominance early on. After her match winning and record-breaking brace away in Wexford last week, 15-year-old sensation Emma Mooney showed tremendous pace down the left-hand side to win a corner after a couple of minutes.
A clever two v one from the resulting set piece saw Roisin Molloy cut inside and unleash a thunderous effort that was sharply turned behind by Nicole Nix.
With Shelbourne having piled on the pressure with their earlier win over Peamount United, table-topping Town knew the margin for error was slim, and they went close again minutes later. The rampaging Molloy swung in a deep cross from the right wing but having been half cleared up in the air, the unmarked skipper Madie Gibson failed to hit the target with her right-footed volley.
But Phil Trill’s side are made of stern stuff and looked fairly solid as the half developed.
The hosts, clearly targeting the right-hand side, continued to get joy and this avenue proved fruitful with the opener coming 25 minutes in.
Following some excellent footwork by Hannah Waesch, who delivered a whipped ball into the box, Kelly Brady looked to have gotten in front of Eve Dossen but her glanced header seemed to come off the unfortunate Galway defender last and loop into the net.
But the hosts were dealt a massive blow moments later when one of the league’s top performers Gibson was unable to shake off an injury from an early collision and was replaced by Izzy Ryan
The visitors, for all their hard work out of possession, failed to trouble the American Megan Plaschko, bar a couple of long-range efforts as a war of attrition developed.
With the game firmly in the balance, chants of "C’mon the Town" greeted the start of the second half knowing that a second might be needed to get over the line.
Ryan got some good space just right of the area but opted for a clipped ball towards Brady that was well marshalled by Dossen on this occasion.
The visitors began to grow in confidence as the game edged towards the hour mark. Both Rolake Olusola and Amanda Smith had efforts before a couple of quick-fire corners further piled on the pressure.
Emma Doherty’s dancing feet on the edge of the area then fashioned a yard of space and forced Plaschko into a full stretch fingertip save to keep her side's narrow lead intact.
Having weathered the storm, the home side slowly swung the pendulum back in their favour. The lively Brady was again razor sharp in the box, twisting and turning under pressure before eventually being snuffed out.
With a quarter of an hour remaining the chance the visitors had been desperately hoping for finally arrived when Doherty broke the offside trap and raced clear, but unfortunately for the former Sligo Rovers star her low shot was well smothered.
However with just over five minutes remaining Galway managed to equalise with a goal of the season contender.
Substitute Meaney stunned the home support as she took advantage of some sloppy play out from the back, intercepting the ball and hitting an unstoppable 25-yard strike into the far top corner to get her side on level terms.
To their credit, both sides pushed for a winner in added on time but the spoils were eventually shared, breathing further life into the enthralling title race with the difference now just two points.
Athlone Town: Megan Plaschko, Kellie Brennan, Kayleigh Shine, Shauna Brennan, Natalie McNally, Hannah Waesch, Kelly Brady, Roisin Molloy, Emma Mooney (Hazel Donegan, 88’), Madison Gibson (Isabel Ryan, 33’), Sarah Rice.
Galway United: Nicole Nix, Aoibheann Costello, Lucy Grant, Isabella Beletic, Rola Olusola (Ceola Bergin, 68’), Lynsey McKey (Aisling Meaney, 62’), Therese Kinnevey, Amanda Smith, Eve Dossen, Emma Doherty (Anna McGough, 88’), Niamh Farrelly.
Referee: Claire Purcell.
Earlier, Shelbourne romped to an emphatic 4-1 victory over Peamount United to keep the pressure on Athlone.
The second-placed Reds went one down very early when Aisling Spillane brilliantly fashioned half a yard of space and lashed home a low effort.
Aoibheann Clancy equalised from the spot in the 19th minute however, and Kate Mooney put the visitors ahead in the 57th.
Noelle Murray prodded home a 69th-minute third with Mooney striking again five minutes from time to put the cherry on top.
Wexford stayed in third position after a 3-0 win at bottom-placed Sligo Rovers.
Della Doherty broke the deadlock in the 37th minute, racing on to a ball over the top and lifting home a calm finish.
Nine minutes into the second half Ciara Rossiter smashed home a second from close range after Bonnie McKiernan spilled a cross, and Leah McGrath curled home the goal of the game with five minites left to wrap it up.
Bohemians edged past Waterford at Dalymount Park.
Leiagh Glennon's excellent 43rd-minute effort proved decisive in a tight contest.
Treaty United swept past Cork City 3-1 at Turner's Cross.
A lovely Isabella Flocchini strike put the visitors ahead on 23 minutes, and Madelyn Robbins doubled their lead four minutes into the second half. Mara McCleary made it 3-0 with a good left-footed finish from inside the box in the 69th minute, with Aine Walsh nabbing a consolation goal for Cork in the closing stages.
DLR Waves picked up just their third win of the season when they upset Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium.
Michelle Doonan's perfectly judged lob on 25 minutes was the difference as the Waves moved up to ninth in the table.
