Title hopefuls Shelbourne returned to the top of the table as they put Sligo Rovers to the sword in an 8-0 drubbing at Tolka Park.
A poker (four goals) from Mackenzie Anthony, a brace from Megan Smyth-Lynch, and a goal each from Noelle Murray and 15-year-old debutant Halle Harcourt made it a resounding victory for the home side.
Having lost top spot in last week's epic encounter at reigning hampions Athlone Town, the hosts knew that they could afford no more slip-ups in the title run-in and that started in emphatic fashion today against a Sligo Rovers side who battled bravely but were on the wrong side of a Reds backlash.
Following an impeccably observed minute silence for the late Ollie Horgan, it was all systems go as both sides went to war.
Last week's defeat in Westmeath came at a cost, not just in terms of the standings, but Eoin Wearen saw the ever reliable Keeva Keenan go off in horrible circumstances and will be out for a number of months with a knee injury, but there was some good news on the injury front as Roma McLoughlin took her place on the youthful looking bench.
Unbeaten against the visitors in their last seven clashes in all competitions, the Reds made a blistering start and spurned four clear-cut chances in the opening quarter of an hour between the game's two main protagonists.
Firstly, American striker Anthony, whose movement was causing all sorts of trouble for the Bit O’Red backline, somehow missed the target from six yards following a delightful low cross from Smyth-Lynch.
Minutes later, the 23-year old had two on-on-ones in quick succession but saw both chances blocked as the brave Bonnie McKiernan stood big.
Fellow strike partner Murray was next to go close as she missed a gilt-edged chance in the similar fashion to Anthony.
The talismanic number 10, under some pressure in the six yard box, failed to find that magic finishing touch to another low cross.
In between waves of Reds pressure, the visitors gave glimpses of the threat they carry putting together some nice moves down the left wing and Paula McGrory, who netted in their 4-1 home defeat to Shamrock Rovers, looked a pacy presence up top.
But the Reds support needn’t have worried as it didn't take long for Murray to make amends as she broke the deadlock midway through the first half.
Teenager Maeve Wollmers inswinging delivery from the right wing was spilled by McKiernan and Murray made no mistake.
Five minutes later, Anthony finally got the goal her first-half performance deserved and was arguably more difficult than her earlier chances.
Having been played through by a perfectly weighted Aoibheann Clancy pass, Anthony twisted and turned before poking the ball in at the near post.
Steve Feeney’s charges showed great courage to stick at it and went agonisingly close to halving the deficit when McCrory spun on a sixpence on the penalty spot, only for the classy Alex Kavanagh to show the other side of her game and throw her body on the line to block a certain goal.
But just before the break it was three to the home side just to settle whatever potential nerves might have been creeping in when Jess Gargan went on a marauding run down the right and stood up an inviting cross for Smyth-Lynch to head home, who looked as surprised as anyone to score in that manner as she celebrated by slapping her forehead.
The second half followed a similar pattern as the hosts looked to kill the game off as a contest, and on the hour mark Anthony duly obliged, showing all her poacher instincts to get a quickfire double and round off her hat-trick.
Firstly, she finished off a free-flowing move started by Gargan and Kavanagh down the right, quickly followed by another neat finish after being teed up by Murray, who took on all comers before unselfishly squaring.
Anthony wasn't finished just yet and was sharp to steal the ball from Eimear Lafferty just inside the area to get her fourth and move level with the league's top scorer, Kelly Brady, on 13 for the season so far.
With a quarter of an hour to go, Shels added a stunning seventh and eighth to put the cherry on top of the icing on the cake.
Smyth-Lynch showed her class by latching onto Doyle’s pass and poking the ball over McKeirnans head just before the loudest cheer of the game came for the goal of the match when substitute Halle Harcourt raced onto Smyth-Lynch’s clever flick and curled the ball over the onrushing keeper to make it a dream debut.
Shelbourne: Amanda McQuillan; Jess Gargan (Madeleine McKinley, 70’), Pearl Slattery, Lucy O’Rourke; Maeve Wollmer, Aoibheann Clancy (Rachel Graham, 62’), Alex Kavanagh (Gabriella Del Pico, 62’), Megan Smyth-Lynch, Leah Doyle; Noelle Murray (Sarah McCaffrey, 70’), Mackenzie Anthony (Halle Murphy Harcourt, 76’).
Subs not used: Courtney Maguire, Roma McLoughlin, Aoife Sheridan, Caoimhe O’Brien.
Sligo Rovers: Bonnie McKiernan; Eimear Lafferty, Sarah McDaniel (Cara King, 84’), Alana Doherty (Lauren Devaney, 84’), Alice Lillie; Leah Kelly, Muireann Devaney; Anna McDaniel, Rachel McGoldrick (Kya McKenna, 63’), Mairead McIntyre (Bernadette Ferreira, 63’); Paula McGrory (Emma Hansberry, 63’).
Subs not used: Louise Masterson, Eve Caprani, Laura McGuinn, Roise Burke.
Referee: Mark Moynihan
Elsewhere, Treaty United leapfrogged Galway United into fourth place in the SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division table after a 2-1 win in their head-to-head at Markets Field.
A Jillian O'Toole own goal gave visitors Galway a lead ten minutes before half-time but the prolific Bella Flocchini levelled for Treaty on 57 minutes.
Teenager Madison McGuane ensured all three points would remain in Limerick after netting the winner 11 minutes from time.
Ellen Dolan scored the only goal on 28 minutes as Peamount United beat Dublin rivals Shamrock Rovers 1-0 at Tallaght Stadium, while Cork City and DLR Waves shared the spoils after a 1-1 draw which saw Holly O'Hagan and Abbie Brophy net for each side respectively.
