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Athlone Town opened up a three-point gap between themselves and nearest challengers Shelbourne at the summit of the Women's Premier Division as they overturned a spirited Peamount United side at Greenogue Park in Dublin. Melissa O'Kane struck in the first half for the midlanders who followed up in the second period with a Chloe Singleton goal thirteen minutes from time as Town pushed ahead of Shels, who they still have a game in hand over. Chasing a back-to-back double after last year's league and cup success, Athlone were the more dangerous of the two sides in the opening half. Peas did have their moments and put together some decent passages of play, but struggled from a lack of decisiveness in the final third. Even without the star players Madie Gibson and the league's top scorer Dana Scheriff, the visitors were the stronger of the two in attack. Phoebe Hampson's header from a Noelle Murray cross came off the top of the Peamount crossbar on six minutes. While the influential Hannah Waesch fired over two minutes later after a well worked move which she began. Alexis Strickland then looked odds on to register her seventh league goal of the season when she was played through on goal. However, quick off her line, Peamount shot stopper Summer Lawless narrowed the angle in time, pushing away Strickland's low effort. The Dubliners' form has been inconsistent as of late with two wins from their last five but it was they who had the best chance of the game so far just before the half hour. Lucy O'Rourke's free from out wide was ideal for the incoming Carlie Sinnott who must have thought she had put Peamount in the lead against the run of play. But wonderful reactions from Town goalkeeper Maria Matthaiou kept this game scoreless. Lily Agg's league champions face title rivals Galway United an FAI Cup semi-final on Saturday. This victory saw them push seven points ahead of the Tribeswomen who occupy the league's third spot with two less games played. Composed in their approach, Althone's patience paid off and they unlocked the door eleven minutes from the break. O'Kane met Waesch's looping set-piece into the Pea's penalty area just ahead of goalkeeper Lawless who had strayed from her line in trying to punch away the free-kick. Peamount's Mary Phillips did her utmost to clear the ball off her own line but couldn't prevent Longford woman O'Kane's first goal of the year. On the back of a narrow victory over Sligo Rovers at the weekend, Athlone's recent league form has been imperious with four wins from their last five, with Agg's charges dropping points on just three occasions this term. Some tenacious defending from Alban Hysa's Peas kept Athlone within their grasp. Meanwhile, Murray attempted the spectacular on 65 minutes but her attempted lob from 35 yards dropped past Lawless' post as United continued to frustrate last year's cup winners. A now improving Peamount almost did damage at the far end two minutes later. Substitute Mily Daly showed strength to knock an Athlone defender off the ball but again Matthaiou rescued her team as the Cypriot stopper got in front of Daly's resulting placed effort. Eleanor Ryan-Doyle was next to test the now busy Matthaiou with 15 minutes left as the four time league winners continued to press. However, Athlone took the wind from the Peas sails 60 seconds later when they struck for their second of the night. The hosts couldn't deal with Roisin Molloy's cross from the end line as the ball landed at the foot of Singleton, who volleyed home first time, her second goal of 2026. Peamount United: Lawless, Russell (Robin-Baird 82), Villiers-Tuthill, Phillips, O'Connor (Ryan-Doyle 55), Sinnott, Gaff (Healy 67), McGonnell, Byrne (Daly 66), O'Rourke, Lovely. Athlone Town: Matthaiou, Waesch (Mooney 90), Murray (Donegan 67), Molloy, Ryan, Strickland (Singleton 67), O'Kane (Brown 90), Hand (Brennan 81), Stovold, Hampson, Barton. Referee: Ryan Maher Attendance: 210