Athlone Town fell to a one defeat at home to DLR Waves in round seven of the SSE Airtricity Women’s national league.
The game had barely got going when Carla McManus reacted quickest to meet a corner kick and head DLR in front at the Athlone Town Stadium.
The striker has been showing signs in recent games that she can be the leading light up front for Graham Kelly's side and her performance here supported the manager's faith in her.
Athlone will feel that they deserved at least a point - and a penalty when Muireann Devaney went down inside the area, but they rarely troubled goalkeeper Eve Badana, who recorded her third clean sheet of the season.
Meanwhile Champions Peamount United recorded a 3-1 win over Cork City with a blistering second half display.
Eleanor Ryan-Doyle had opened the scoring for Peas on 15 minutes when she complimented great work by Áine O'Gorman with a fine finish. But then Eva Mangan levelled matters when she fired in from close range after the ball had rebounded back off the crossbar.
Peamount showed a ruthless streak in the second period. Ryan-Doyle got her second of the game, to move her joint top of the Scoring Charts with Galway's Rachel Kearns, when she powered in a header from a corner kick.
O'Gorman made sure of the victory with a sweet half-volley finish. But Cork will take many positives from their efforts here at PRL Park, especially with such a young starting line-up.
Elsewhere Shelbourne crushed Galway 5-0 at Tolka Park. The visitors could hardly get outside of their own half as Jessica Ziu got things started with a close-range finish before Jamie Finn joined in on the act for her first goal of the season.
Midfielder Ciara Grant heaped on more pain for Galway goalkeeper Trish Fennelly on her League debut before Saoirse Noonan converted a penalty - all before half-time.
When they get going Shels are a frightening team to play against with goal scoring threats all over the pitch, including Noelle Murray who saved the best until last with a nonchalant chipped goal.
While Wexford Youths powered their way into the title challenge with a 7-1 win over Bohemians in Ferrycarrig Park.
Captain Kylie Murphy fired two goals early on (the second of which came from the penalty spot) to enable Wexford to seize command before Aisling Frawley raced free to make it 3-0
The pressure exerted by the home side proved too much for Bohs, who did battle hard but let themselves down with some of their defending, especially at set-pieces.
It was a set-piece delivery that led to Wexford's fourth when the ball appeared to come off Yvonne Hedigan before crossing the line. Substitutes Kim Flood and Lauren Kelly (2) also scored, while Erica Burke pulled one back for Bohs.
