Ellen Dolan brace earns Peas a point against DLR Waves

Reigning SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division champions Peamount United were forced to come from behind twice to salvage a point as they were held in a thrilling encounter against an excellent DLR Waves side at PLR Park.

Isobel Finnegan and Michelle Doonan had given the Waves the lead in each half but Ellen Dolan responded twice to ensure the spoils were shared.

With the unbeaten Shelbourne winning earlier in the day and the gap to the high-flying leaders Galway United three points at kick-off, James O'Callaghan’s charges knew they couldn’t afford a slip up as the enthralling title race continued.

Following a quite fiery start, it was the home side who threatened first with a quarter of an hour gone when Rebecca Watkins went on a mazy run, getting to the end line before cutting back to Dearbhaile Beirne who missed her kick at the vital moment.

But the visitors shocked the title holders minutes later when they got the lead from a corner-kick from Eve Conheady that caused havoc in the usually assured back line, conceding their first goal in five games in all competitions.

Peas stopper Niamh Coombes, deputising for Niamh Reid-Burke who is due to get married soon, was brave in initially denying Robyn Bolger in a one-on-one but from the resulting corner it was Finnegan that managed the head the ball down and in off the post in a congested area.

Laura Heffernan’s well drilled side have been better than results have reflected. They continued to plough forward in search of their first win of the season as the game became end to end.

Following a bout of serious pressure from the home side as the half drew to a close, they were then gifted with a glorious chance to equalise when Chloe McCarthy took down Dolan in the box.

Irish