A late brace from Stephanie Zambra was enough to secure a 3-1 victory for Shamrock Rovers to maintain their challenge for second place in the Women’s Premier Division.

The second half substitute doubled Rover’s advantage earned earlier in the half through Tiegan Ruddy on her first start since joining the club in the summer. Before Ruth McDonnell’s opportunistic effort threatened to spoil the hoops party late on.

Zambra was on hand to tap home with just minutes on the clock to secure the victory for Collie O’Neill’s side.

The first half was an entirely forgettable experience with neither side looking like they really wanted to win the match. It took an age to create any type of opportunity for either sides although Shamrock Rovers would create the majority of the chances in the opening half.

Aine O’Gorman would have the first real effort on goal as she cut inside from the right hand side and drove a left footed strike just wide of the upright with Rugile Auskalnyte struggling to get across to cover.

Alanna McEvoy would gather the ball from the resulting kick out and tried her luck from distance but the Irish underage international was more than able for the effort.

Senior International Tiegan Ruddy had a decent outing in her first appearance for the Hoops since signing during the summer and it would be Ruddy herself who would have the last chance to open the scoring in the first half. Her effort ending up being cleared by the DLR defence.

The second half was another serving of the same from both sides. The quality of Aine O’Gorman proving to be a thorn in the DLR side. She would have the best opportunity of the game after a pass from Thompson found her clear in the box. Her first touch creating the space for a sight of goal. Her effort always rising over the cross bar.

When the goal finally arrived it was Tiegan Ruddy who provided the finish after a bit of pinball in the DLR box. A Rovers header rebounded off a defending head before dropping to Alannah McEvoy who lays the ball back into the path of the debutant who finds the bottom corner from 15 yards out.

Shamrock Rovers did have the ball in the net moments later but Jess Gargan’s header was ruled out due to an offside after a lovely move from the visitors.

Rover’s dominance continued as Zambra scored entering the last ten minutes of the game. A crossed effort rebounded of a player from each side before Zambra was in the right place at the right time to stroke the ball home.

It looked to have sealed the victory but DLR hadn’t quite read the script. A long ball down the wing caught Savanah McCarthy napping and Amber Cosgrove nipped in and found McDonnell who’s goal bound effort wasn’t dealt with by Budden who watched the ball enter the net to give the home side hope. The two Irish internationals won’t be delighted when they watch that back.

Zambra would definitely seal the game when she tapped in a centre with two minutes left on the clock to give a fully deserved two goal winning margin after the visitors dominated the proceedings throughout.

Rovers now face Treaty United and FAI Cup finalists Athlone with second place firmly in their own grasp. Shelbourne will be hoping for a slip up for the Tallaght side to re-ignite their own runner up chances.

DLR will regroup with just a trip to Sligo next weekend to finish out the year for the Belfield side who will be hoping to rebuild ahead of what could be another challenging season next term.