DLR Waves all but end Peamount title hopes, Shels and Athlone earn comfortable wins

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