Unbeaten Shelbourne made it two Dublin derby wins in a week as they continued their excellent run of form with a well earned 3-0 victory against second from bottom DLR Waves who, to their credit, put in a real battling performance right to the end.
A typical captain's performance from Reds stalwart Pearl Slattery with two well finished goals in either half and a late Rebecca Devereux strike proved enough at the UCD bowl to narrow the gap to one point and put pressure on leaders Galway United - who still have a game in hand.
The home side's performances have probably been better than their league position suggests as they search for their first win of the campaign and started well, moving the ball excellently as the South Dublin sun beamed down.
Robyn Byrne had a double effort having won the ball high that showed the title contenders they were in for a tough game.
But the Reds, missing the talismanic Noelle Murray who celebrated her 100th goal for the club in last week's home win against Bohemians, began to grow into the game through Jemma Quinn in the number nine role who began to bring her teammates into the game as they tried to exert their dominance.
Following a couple of neat one-two's Maggie Smith went close with a thunderous effort that sailed just over as the pressure really began to ramp up.
And the breakthrough finally came on the 36th minute when Red’s skipper Pearl Slattery, as she so often does, found a yard of space in the area to power home a header.
Having found their groove, Eoin Wearen’s well coached troops displayed some sumptuous football as the half drew to a close and with slightly better final ball might have found Quinn through on goal on a couple of occasions.
The visitors meant business after the break and really should have doubled their lead minutes after the restart when the ball fell kindly to Roma McLoughlin on the edge of the area who dragged her shot agonisingly wide having shown lightning quick feet to fashion a yard of space.
Minutes later it was Quinn’s turn to miss a gilt edged chance when she somehow skyed an effort from 6-yards out with the goal at her mercy, having been tee’d up by McLoughlin. The energy sapping heat started to take its toll,as both managers looked to their bench to freshen things up.
With a quarter of an hour remaining wave after wave of Reds attacks began raining down on DLR’s incredible stopper Eve Badana, who saved remarkably well to deny Slattery from point blank range but with eight minutes remaining could do nothing to deny Slattery her brace, when in similar circumstances to her opener, found a yard of space at the back post to grab her second, as chants of "El Capitana" erupted from the Shels travelling support.
Substitute Rebecca Devereux then put the icing on the cake with a powerful strike from the edge of the area to make it three and easy in the end, as her side was made to work hard for the win.
DLR Waves: Eve Badana, Nicole Keogh, Chloe McCarthy, Jess Gleeson, Isobel Finnegan, Nadine Seward (Eve Conheady, 69’), Amber Cosgrove, Freya Roche (Rebecca McMahon, 61’), Robyn Bolger, Michelle Doonan, Keelin Dodd
Subs not used: Rugile Auskalnyte, Hanna Tobin Jones, Taylor White, Bronah Kane, Oleta Griffin, Cliodhna Donnelly, Aisling Meehan
Shelbourne: Amanda McQuillan, Keeva Keenan, Pearl Slattery, Leah Doyle (Christie Gray, 61’) Rachel Graham (Alex Kavanagh, 61’) Jemma Quinn (Rebecca Devereux, 61’), Roma McLoughlin, Jess Gargan, Mia Dodd (Eabha O’Mahony, 73’), Leah O’Rourke (Katie McCarn, 73’), Maggie Pierce
Subs not used: Caoimhe Magee, Nia Hannon, Nadine Clare, Kerri Letmon,
Referee: Darragh White
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