Sadhbh Doyle’s first half goal proved to be the difference as leaders Peamount Utd recorded a hard fought win over defending champions Shelbourne at Tolka Park this afternoon.

Doyle rose highest in the 16th minute to head past Courtney Maguire in the Shels goal. The home side had chances to get back in the home but hit the post twice while both sides had efforts cleared off the line.

It’s a run of six games unbeaten now for Peas while this defeat is Shelbourne’s third of the season and they are now six points off the leaders.

Shels came close to breaking the deadlock in the 10th minute but Christie Gray’s excellent strike skimmed the crossbar and just went over.

Peas won a number of corners after that as they pushed for the opening goal. In the 16th minute they took the lead from a corner when Doyle powerfully headed home. It was her third goal of the season and her third in two games.

The home side tried hard to get back into the game. They hit the post twice as they piled on the pressure. Chloe Moloney had a chance cleared off the line while minutes later Jemma Quinn brought a fine save out of Peas keeper Niamh Reid-Burke.

Both sides had chances in the early stages of the second half. In the 47th minute Gray’s effort flashed across the face of the goal as Shels looked to get back on level terms while in the 51st minute great defending from Leah Doyle saw her clear Erin McLaughlin’s effort off the line as Peas looked to double their lead.  

Shels continued to press for the equaliser goal; Keeva Keenan set Quinn up in the 63rd minute but she shot straight at Reid-Burke. 

Reid-Burke pulled off a good save in the 73rd minute to keep her goal intact. Substitute Siobhan Killen played the ball over the top to Noelle Murray but she was denied by the Peas netminder. 

Noel King made changes as his side went in search of a goal but they couldn’t find a way past Reid-Burke.