Athlone Town returned to the summit of the SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division with an impressive 2-1 victory over title rivals Shelbourne.
First-half goals from Natalie McNally and a 13th of the season for the league top scorer Kelly Brady proved enough for the points to remain in the midlands, with Noelle Murray netting late on for the visitors.
The scene was perfectly set at a raucous Athlone Town Stadium, the reigning champions versus the FAI Cup holders.
The top two from last season and just two points separating the sides prior to kick off in one of the most exciting title races in recent memory.
There was no chance a Colin Fortune side would potentially have one eye on the huge upcoming Champions League ties, such is the nature of the taskmaster, and no chances were taken in his starting 11 as the influential pair of skipper Izzy Groves and Hannah Waesch started in the engine room.
The hosts made a flying start, somewhat targeting the Shels left side as they made numerous early advances through Kellie Brennan and Roisin Molloy who were delivering dangerous crosses but just failing to find the lively Brady in the middle.
The visitors, who relinquished their hold on the FAI Cup going out at home to Shamrock Rovers in a thrilling Ringsend derby just over a week previous, were dealt a blow prior to kick off with the vastly experienced Rachel Graham seemingly failing a late fitness test.
The energetic American Gabby Del Pico was on hand to fill the void and did so brilliantly popping up all over the middle of the park nicking the ball to take the sting out of what was a pretty dominant 15 minutes for Athlone.
The visitors, who have gotten the better of The Town in the last two outings, and quite significant ones in the shape of The Presidents Cup and FAI Cup final, began to grow into the game trying to bring calm to the madness by enjoying spells of possession to work their way up the field.
Alex Kavanagh looked sharp linking between the lines and had the first shot in anger from 30-yards that sailed straight into Megan Plaschko’s arms.
The game was really catching fire, with the air of two heavyweights slugging it out, going blow for blow and, after both Pearl Slattery and Brady exchanged chances, it was a tale of two huge set pieces just after the half-hour mark that proved pivotal.
American striker Mackenzie Anthony was unlucky to see her glancing header seeming come off Noelle Murray, who was trying to disrupt Plaschko on the goal line, and this glorious chance was instantly followed by the home side flying straight down the other end, eventually got themselves in front after a couple of times of asking.
Brady’s back post flick was somehow cleared off the line by the cat-like reflexes of Aoibheann Clancy but, following a chaotic scramble in the area, the ball eventually sat up kindly for another American, Natalie McNally, to volley home from close range.
The titanic tussle continued at a blistering pace and just seven minutes before the break Athlone doubled their lead in another huge moment. The relentless Molloy showed great determination to hunt down and dispossess Leah Doyle on her endline.
The player of the match then had the coolness of character to pull the ball back to Brady, whose powerful shot deflected off Keeva Keenan and past the helpless Amanda McQuillan to give her side a deserved lead going into the break.
With nothing to lose the visitors, following a slight tactical reshuffle that saw them go three at the back, came flying out of the traps and had the ball in the net just a couple of minutes after the break.
Jemma Quinn’s acrobatic volley rattled off the crossbar and flew in the air and, as the ball returned to the ground, Anthony was on hand to nod home only to see the flag go up for the narrowest of offsides.
Just like the first half, as soon as one side landed a blow, the other responded. Following another lightning break, the ball eventually found its way out to Madie Gibson – who was having a quiet night by her own high standards. With almost too much time to settle herself, Gibson blasted over the bar with the goal at her mercy, in what would have almost guaranteed the three points.
The Reds attempt to build a head of steam was then halted due to a terrible looking injury to Keenan who tangled with Gibson after halting the flying wingers progress down the left.
Following a lengthy break it didn’t look good for the defender who had to be carried off to the side, needing a stretcher and was eventually replaced by exciting teenager Maeve Wollmer.
With time running out Shels task was made almost insurmountable when Jemma Quinn received a straight red card for a dangerously high boot that caught Kate Slevin in the head.
To their credit the visitors kept going, throwing bodies forward and got the goal their second-half performance deserved.
In the third of nine minutes of injury time Murray halved the deficit with a clinical finish to make for a very uncomfortable ending for the drum bashing home support who greeted the final whistle with a mix of pure elation and relief.
Athlone Town: Megan Plaschko;, Kellie Brennan, Kayleigh Shine, Natalie McNally, Sarah Rice; Hannah Waesch, Izzy Groves (Kate Slevin, 75’), Roisin Molloy, Alexis Strickland, Madison Gibson; Kelly Brady
Shelbourne: Amanda McQuillan; Jess Gargan, Keeva Keenan (Maeve Wollmer, 66’), Pearl Slattery, Leah Doyle (Megan Smyth-Lynch, 84’); Gabriella Del Pico (Nia Hannon, 46’), Alex Kavanagh, Aoibheann Clancy, Jemma Quinn; Noelle Murray, Mackenzie Anthony
Referee: Darragh White
Elsewhere, Amanda Smith got a cracking goal at the death to give Galway United a 2-1 win over Bohemians.
Hannah O'Brien opened scoring for Bohs with Jamie Erickson equalising for the home side in the 51st minute but it was Smith that destroyed the visitors' hope of an away draw when she put one past Rachael Kelly in the 93rd minute.
Brilliant goal for Amanda Smith and Galway United to win at the death against Bohs! pic.twitter.com/S6juZr3aE6
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) August 23, 2025
DLR Waves managed four past Waterford at home in the first half to finish 4-2. The home side went 3-0 up before Fiana Bradley got one back for Waterford in the 31st minute. Chloe Atkinson added to scoring for the Blues but DLR Waves' early lead was too much to catch.
Sligo Rovers lost 4-1 to Shamrock Rovers at the Showgrounds. Peamount United got the job done with a 2-0 victory over Cork City. Wexford FC had to settle for a 1-0 loss to Treaty United.
