DLR Waves all but ended Peamount United's slim hopes of retaining their title with an impressive 3-2 victory in the sizzling South Dublin sun.
Despite being under the cosh for the majority of the game, The Waves held firm in a five-goal thriller to earn all three points at the UCD Bowl.
Both sides had opposing fortunes in last week's FAI Cup first round as Peamount fell at the first hurdle at Dalymount Park, whilst The Waves had a convincing 4-0 home win against Whitehall Rangers.
The visitors, who welcomed big name signing Niamh Farrelly into the starting 11, made all of the early running with Rebecca Watkins, well supported by Lauryn O’Callaghan, tormentor-in-chief, continuously getting to the end line putting in dangerous low crosses.
The immediate inclusion of the former Parma and London City Lioness player allowed skipper Karen Duggan to push forward into the midfield and seemed a better balance to the reigning champions, who had put together some slick early moves with the final ball just lacking.
But just before the half hour mark it was the hosts who grabbed the lead against the run of play. A long ball from the back somehow found its way through the Peas defence and allowed Izzy Finnegan to turn on the afterburners, showing good composure to poke the ball past the oncoming Niamh Reid-Burke.
James O’Callaghan’s side didn’t have to wait long for an equaliser when Irish Under-19 international, and Peas' top scorer, Ellen Dolan headed home from a quality cross provided by Jetta Berrill - one of a number of former Waves alumni in the Peamount squad.
The visitors went desperately close to taking the lead just before the break when the livewire Michelle Doonon got on the end of a well worked move but was sharply denied by Rugile Auskalnyte from close range and goalscorer Dolan almost doubled her tally, but saw another header this time narrowly miss the bottom corner.
The one-way traffic continued into the second half but again the finishing touches failed to be applied on a couple of occasions.
And on the hour mark, very much mirroring the first half, it was the hosts who got themselves back in front with a quick-fire double salvo. Firstly, Keelin Dodd smashed home from yards out after an almighty goal-mouth scramble and just two minutes later it was 3-1 to the Waves.
Abbie Brophy, in confident mood from her three excellent assists seven days previous, provided a low cross to the feet of substitute Aisling Meehan, who looked to have been bundled over by Farrelly in the area.
Amber Cosgrove took charge of the penalty, stepping up confidently before rifling in off the post from 12-yards to earn her side a two-goal cushion.
Meehan could have made sure the remaining quarter of an hour was even more comfortable when she almost took advantage of a Berrill mistake at the back, allowing the Irish youth international a clear run on goal only to be denied brilliantly by Reid-Burke.
Although Berrill’s injury time looping effort, that sailed into the top corner, ensured a nervy final couple of minutes for the home side, a combination of resolute defending and clinical play in the final third meant that Laura Heffernan’s side took all three points and bragging rights in the big south Dublin derby.
DLR Waves: Rugile Auskalnyte, Chloe McCarthy, Jess Gleeson, Isobel Finnegan, Rachel Doyle (Amy Ryan, 79), Abbie Brophy (Taylor White, 79), Amber Cosgrove, Robyn Bolger (Nadine Seward, 54), Leah Donnelly (Eve Conheady, 68), Keelin Dodd, Shannon Hanlon Coady (Aisling Meehan, 54).
Peamount United: Niamh Reid-Burke, Laryn O’Callaghan, Niamh Farrelly (Freya Healy, 62), Chloe Moloney, Dearbhaile Beirne (Ciara Maher, 89), Karen Duggan, Jess Fitzgerald, Ellen Dolan, Jetta Berrill, Rebecca Watkins, Michelle Doonan (Carla McManus, 67).
Referee: Aaron O’Dowd.
Elsewhere, Shelbourne and Athlone Town remain on top of the table on 31 points after comfortable victories.
Shelbourne were 4-1 winners away to Cork City with the hosts providing stiff resistance for most of the first half.
The Dublin side owned the ball but it took 43 minutes for them to convert it into a goal with Hannah Healy racing through and finishing across goalkeeper Una Foyle.
Leah Doyle doubled their advantage just before the hour as she converted from close range after Roma McLaughlin's initial effort was parried away.
Cork did threaten a comeback when Eva Mangan scored in the 77th minute, but Megan Smyth-Lynch - from the penalty spot - and Pearl Slattery were on target late on.
Athlone Town were even more comfortable winners as they saw off Sligo Rovers 5-1 at home.
Any chance of a shock were all but quashed just two minutes in as goalkeeper Bonnie Kiernan was red cardred.
Athlone took advantage with goals from Roisin Molloy and early substitute Brenda Ebika Tabe giving them a 2-0 interval lead.
Molloy and Kerryann Brown extended that lead in the second half and although Anna McDaniel scored her first Sligo goal, Jesi Rossman had the final say from the penalty spot.
Galway moved up to third with a 1-0 win over Shamrock Rovers - Jenna Slattery scoring from the penalty spot after Emma Doherty was fouled - while Bohemians picked up a 1-0 win at Treaty United, Fleming Aoibhe with the only goal of the game in the 62nd minute.
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