Shelbourne show their grit in thrilling win over Galway
Goals from player of the match Rebecca Cooke and Galway United's Rola Olusola had the game finely balanced at the break, before Cooke got her second just after the break to earn a huge three points.
The visitors, who looked to continue the form displayed in the second half of last week's first defeat of the season to champions Athlone Town, knew that defeat would open a less than favourable gap to their title rivals and potentially kick off a two-horse race - although Phil Trill's charges do have a game in hand.
And it was Galway who tried to land the first blow with Emily Fitzgerald going close with a back post header that narrowly missed the bottom corner.
Eoin Wearen's side overcame a tricky Treaty trip seven days previous and looked determined to retake top spot - for a few hours at least - and responded with a free flowing move down the right ending with a drilled low cross by the energetic Aoibheann Clancy that was well held by Jayne Merren.
And just after the quarter of an hour mark the hosts got their noses in front following a move of the highest quality. Cooke picked up a loose ball just outside the box slightly to the right and reversed the ball to Alex Kavanagh.
And the Finglas native, who was included in Carla Ward's most recent squad, played an exquisite return ball in behind to the in-form Cooke who finished brilliantly into the far post to open the scoring, just as she did last week.
Undeterred, the powerful away side levelled just 10 minutes later when Emma Doherty broke the offside trap down the left. The pacey forward showed great composure to cut back inside, past Keeva Keenan and unleash a stinging effort that was too hot to handle for Amanda McQuillan, with the ball falling straight at the feet of Olusola, who tapped home.
Despite the heat, both sides continued at relentless pace and just as United finished celebrating, they could have found themselves behind again. Cooke was looking unstoppable and delivered another dangerous low cross picked up by Pearl Slattery, who had stayed up from an earlier setpiece. But the Shels skipper was denied by a sharp low save by Merren to keep it level.
On the stroke of half-time Galway were dealt a major blow when they lost Jayne Merren to injury. A long ball over the top held up in the corridor of uncertainty thanks to the dry surface and both Kate Mooney and Merren collided, with the former Wexford stopper coming off worse and she needed to be carried off.
Following a well-earned 15-minute break both Mackenzie Anthony and Amanda Smith spurned good chances after the restart, before Cooke put her side back in front, racing on to yet another incredible through ball, this time by Rachel Graham, and finished coolly past substitute Nicole Nix.
Shels' strength off the bench looked to keep them in the ascendancy with the likes of Roma McLoughlin and Noelle Murray being introduced as they looked to get a third and kill the game off.
It didn't quite arrive as they hoped and with just the one goal in it entering the dying embers, a nervy finish was incoming and the home fans had their hearts in their mouths when Olusola raced onto a long ball and almost found an equaliser, but just over ran the ball giving herself no angle to strike back across goal.
But The Reds' experience just saw them over the line to open up a five point gap on their title rivals.
Shelbourne: Amanda McQuillan; Lucy O'Rourke (Jess Gargan, 69'), Keeva Keenan, Pearl Slattery, Leah Doyle; Rebecca Cooke, Alex Kavanagh (Gabriella Del Pico, 76'), Rachel Graham (Noelle Murray, 62'), Aoibheann Clancy; Mackenzie Anthony, Kate Mooney (Roma McLoughlin, 69')
Subs not used: Nia Hannon, Aoife Sheridan, Maeve Wollmer
Galway United: Jayne Merren (Nicole Nix, 45+3); Therese Kinnevey, Eve Dossen, Lucy Grant, Aoibheann Costello; Kate Thompson, Isabella Beletic, Amanda Smith (Niamh Farrelly, 74'); Rola Olusola, Emily Fitzgerald (Ava Mullins, 62'), Emma Doherty
Earlier, close by in Phibsborough, Bohemians recorded a 3-1 win over DLR Waves at Dalymount Park. Shauna Carroll got the hosts off the mark in the 36th minute after Abbie Brophy had given the visitors the lead after 18 minutes.
Katie McCarn put the Gypsies in front just before the break but it wasn't until the 88th minute that substitute Hannah Healy put the result beyond doubt for Bohs.
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