Shelbourne kept their title dreams alive with a convincing 4-0 win over DLR Waves to move within a point of champions Athlone Town at the summit of the Women's Premier Division.
Aoibheann Clancy netted late in the first half of a fast-paced encounter to put Eoin Wearan’s side on track for victory.
The majority of the action came after the break, however, as Alex Kavanagh, Mackenzie Anthony and sub Gabby Delpico added goals to complete an emphatic victory.
Forward Michelle Doonan was a constant threat for an effervescent Waves side, but the home team were more incisive throughout and made the breakthrough eight minutes from half time.
Noelle Murray made space in the box and squared to centre forward Anthony, who looked set to shoot but laid the ball off for Clancy to fire into the top corner.
DLR, who had lost their first eight games of the season, have improved significantly and caused problems for Shels in the early stages, but could not create any clear-cut opportunities.
Murray was typically creative in the deep-lying role and Shels played the game at a relentless pace to ensure Waves remained under pressure.
The Dubliner pulled the ball back for Roma McLaughlin late in the first half, but her effort was easily saved by DLR 'keeper Eve Badana.
What appeared a tight game at the break quickly became a rout as the Reds scored twice in three minutes early in the second half.
Kavanagh added her name to the scoresheet on 50 minutes following great work from American striker Anthony, who breezed through Leah Donnelly’s challenge to shoot.
Her shot was well saved by Badana, but Kavanagh was in the right spot to control the ball and finish into an empty net.
And Anthony got her just rewards two minutes later as she accepted a pass from Kavanagh, swiveled and picked out the bottom corner.
Badana did well to deny another Clancy strike from 20 yards before, at the other end, Neema Nyangasi’s precise lob played in Amber Cullen, but Amanda McQuillan was quick off her line to save.
Shels’ sub Delpico played a lovely reverse pass to put in her compatriot Anthony but Badana was equal to the task, and again as she denied Delpico from Leah Doyle’s cross.
Another substitute, Madeleine McKinley, twisted and turned on the wing and crossed deep for Anthony but, this time, the striker could not find the target with her header.
But she had no such misfortune with her expert through ball for Delpico four minutes from time and the midfielder emphatically placed the ball past Badana into the bottom left corner.
Shelbourne: Amanda McQuillan; Leah Doyle (Maeve Wollmer 78), Pearl Slattery, Jessica Gargan, Lucy O'Rourke; Aoibheann Clancy, Nia Hannon (Megan Smyth-Lynch 53), Alex Kavanagh (Gabby Delpiico 67), Roma McLaughlin (Rachel Graham 67), Noelle Murray (Madeleine McKinley 78); Mackenzie Anthony.
DLR Waves: Eve Badana; Amber Cosgrove, Leah Donnelly, Chloe McCarthy, Bronagh Kane, (Shauna Peare 67); Eve Conheady, Rebecca McMahon (Neema Nyangasi 55), Michelle Doonan, Rachel Doyle (Nadine Clare 78), Aisling Meehan (Amber Cullen 55); Siún Murdiff (Megan Doyle 55).
Referee: Paula Brady (Dublin).
Galway United left Dublin with all three points as they were 2-1 winners over Peamount United.
Galway took the lead 11 minutes in when Ceola Bergin cooly put Amanda Budden the wrong way from the penalty spot after Aoibheann Costello was felled.
Bergin buries it into the bottom corner! Galway take the lead. pic.twitter.com/HQeXOasqiY
— LOI Women (@LoiWomen) September 13, 2025
The hosts found a way back into the contest in additional time at the end of the first half as Eleanor Ryan-Doyle's neat first touch gave her the space to unleash a rocket from outside the area.
Galway goalkeeper Nicole Nix was busy in the second half as the rain came down at Greenogue Park, and her side profited from her good work as Bergin grabbed the winner - her second - in the 59th minute following a beautiful turn in the box to get free of the defender.
