Athlone Town put themselves in the driving seat to retain their SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division title as they overcame an injury-hit Shelbourne in a titanic tussle at Tolka Park, now knowing that a win at Turners Cross on Wednesday will mathematically seal the deal.
Hannah Waesch and Kelly Brady had put the visitors in pole position but a late Jemma Quinn header gave the Reds hope of extending the title race for another week at least.
In the latest episode of an enthralling series between the two top teams in the country, even mother nature played her part too as the morning storms cleared, making way for sunny skies as the both rivals prepared for an all-out war.
It was do or die for Eoin Wearen's side, who were still reeling from the loss of star midfielder Alex Kavanagh who suffered a terrible wrist injury just seven days previous, and knew that anything less than a win would mean they would end the season trophyless for the first time since 2023.
Shels started the game with the bit between their teeth and thought they had taken a vital lead with just a couple of minutes played. Leah Doyle’s viciously whipped free-kick from the right wing was nodded home by skipper Pearl Slattery, only to see the flag raised for the narrowest of offsides.
The Cup-final feel continued as both sides pressed each other relentlessly.
The double-chasing visitors, having the ace up their sleeve of that midweek trip to Cork to potentially seal their second league title in a row, went close themselves when Kelly Brady got turned and ran at the heart of the Shels rearguard. The Town’s star striker cleverly cut inside but dragged her shot just wide of the near post.
The battle to finish as the league top-scorers added an extra spice to proceedings as Mackenzie Anthony and Brady looked to fire their respective sides to glory and the former stung the palms of Megan Plaschko from close range having been teed up by Noelle Murray.
Referee Mark Houlihan had a big call to make midway through the first half as Alexis Strickland flew into a challenge on Murray, with the American seemingly going over the top of the ball and upon reflection was lucky to receive just a yellow.
Eoin Wearen must have been thinking who he had upset as the host's injury hoodoo struck yet again. Having already lost Kate Mooney, Keeva Keenan and Kavanagh to nasty injuries, the creative Roma McLoughlin then pulled up with a thigh muscle injury having tried her luck from outside the area.
The visitors regrouped following the brief stoppage and went agonisingly close to edging ahead when captain Madie Gibson delivered a delightful ball from the left that caused mass confusion, resulting in Kelly Brady’s lofted header cleared off the line by the recovering Doyle.
And on the stroke of half-time the league leaders showed their ruthlessness in front of goal to take a huge lead. Shauna Brennan swung in a cross deep from the left that made its way in behind Lucy O’Rourke.
Hanna Waesch kept the ball alive and cleverly turned back inside the left centre back and finished from close range to stun the home support.
Both heavyweights continued to slug it out as tension filled Tolka Park.
And just after the hour mark Athlone doubled their lead through a lightning counter attack as Brady showed incredible strength and athleticism to hold off Doyle and finish calmly to ensure her side had one hand on the title - going level with Anthony on 16 goals in the process.
Despite going further behind the home side refused to drop their head with plenty of time remaining and should have halved the deficit with 20-minutes remaining when Megan Smyth-Lynch put the ball on the chest of Slattery who volleyed over with the goal at her mercy.
And with time trickling away the grandstand finish was set beautifully when Doyle’s inswinging corner was powered home by substitute Jemma Quinn.
With just seconds remaining the hosts earned that one chance they had been so desperately searching for when Anthony battled to retrieve possession. The ball sat up kindly yet again for Slattery who tried to control her shot but failed to hit the corner as player of the match Megan Plaschko got down to make a game-winning save.
Shelbourne: Amanda McQuillan; Nia Hannon (Megan Smyth-Lynch, 61’), Pearl Slattery, Lucy O’Rourke; Jess Gargan, Aoibheann Clancy, Rachel Graham (Maeve Wollmer, 61’), Roma McLoughlin (Gabriella Del Pico, 28’), Leah Doyle; Noelle Murray (Jemma Quinn, 68’), Mackenzie Anthony
Subs not used: Courtney Maguire, Aoife Sheridan, Madeleine McKinley, Sarah McCaffrey
Athlone Town: Megan Plaschko; Kellie Brennan, Shauna Brennan, Natalie McNally, Kayleigh Shine; Kate Slevin (Izzy Groves, 90’), Hannah Waesch; Roisin Molloy, Alexis Strickland (Emma Mooney, 59’), Madison Gibson (Isabel Ryan, 78’); Kelly Brady
Subs not used: Maria Matthaiou, Aoife O’Connor, Hazel Donegan, Ciara O’Neill, Lucy Fitzgerald, Sarah Rice
Referee: Mark Houlihan
Earlier, Women's FAI Cup finalists Bohemians moved up to fifth after a 3-2 victory over Sligo Rovers.
Katie Malone found the net twice for Bohs in the first half either side of an Anna McDaniel goal for the visitors.
Paula McGrory would level it up shortly before half-time but Bohs would run out winners thanks to Alannah McEvoy's stoppage time goal.
Peamount United are just one point behind their fellow Dubliners in sixth after a 6-0 away triumph at Treaty United that saw the Limerick side drop down to seventh.
The Peas were in control by half-time thanks to a brace from Sadhbh Doyle, sandwiched between goals from Sorcha Melia and Ellen Dolan.
Melia would score again ten minutes into the second half before Ruby Gallagher added the sixth late on.
Shamrock Rovers were also big winners on the road as they thrashed Waterford 8-1.
Lauren Walsh gave Waterford the lead on 14 minutes but Rovers hit back as Mia Dodd, Áine O'Gorman and Emily Corbet all scored a brace each, with Katie O'Reilly and Jaime Thompson getting their other goals.
In the late game, Wexford struck late at Ferrycarrig Park to move within one point of third-placed Galway United.
With the game on course to finish scoreless, Kylie Murphy found the net in the sixth minute of stoppage time to seal a 1-0 win for Wexford.
