Women’s FAI Cup final: Shelbourne 6 Athlone 1
“I felt it in my bones all week,” said a delighted Pearl Slattery after leading Shelbourne to FAI Cup glory for the third time in their history by beating Athlone Town 6-1 in Tallaght Stadium.
“The Cup was not going back to Athlone today, we were motivated, for the end of the season we wanted silverware, we deserved it,” she added.
It was certainly The Reds’ day as they used the motivation of missing out on the league to put league champions Athlone Town to the sword with an incredible first half display in Tallaght.
This was the third straight year that the two teams faced off in this showpiece event with one win apiece going into this encounter. Athlone had been hoping to become double champions having won the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division.
“I am just delighted for everyone involved in the club, to captain Shels will probably be the best thing I will do in my career so to bring silverware home for them again is just amazing,” Slattery said.
Ramming home a breathtaking six goals in the first half thanks to a brace each from Kate Mooney and Noelle Murray, and a goal apiece from Jess Gargan, Leah Doyle, Shels did not hold back although Brenda Tabe added a deserved consolation.
The big news before kick-off was Athlone stalwart Laurie Ryan was just fit enough for the bench, and her loss was certainly felt.
As Storm Ashley began to batter Tallaght, Roma McLaughlin’s through ball seemed to hold up in the wind, causing recent Irish international call-up Katie Keane some confusion.
This slight hesitation allowed Kate Mooney to nip in and round the keeper before stabbing home.
Minutes later, Maggie Pierce raced on to a loose clearance but her touch was too heavy, inviting Shauna Brennan to make a challenge. The American central midfielder showed great pace to nick the ball inside the area before being brought down by the unfortunate Town centre-half.
Murray was coolness personified as she stroked home from 12 yards to make it two.
Just after the half-hour mark it was three with McLaughlin delivering a floated ball on to the toe of Jess Gargan, who had continued her run from deep, to finish on the volley from close range.
Mooney was hungry for more as she grabbed her second with an expertly taken close-range volley.
The enigmatic Murray then got her second, controlling a beautiful right-footed volley into the far corner before another dangerous Kavanagh set-piece found its way to Pierce, her attempt fell kindly to Leah Doyle to make it six.
On the stroke of half time Tabe got her name on the scoresheet with a powerful low drive to take the shine off an unbelievable half of football.
Neither side added to their tally in the second half but despite the game being done as a contest, both sides continued to battle to the end.
There was some talk before the game that if Shels were successful, Pearl could be tempted to go out on a high but this was quickly rubbished, finishing with: “I feel good, I know a lot of people around my age are dropping and retiring, why would I?
“The girls keep me young, preseason humbles me and they keep me fit. I always match myself to the girls and if I can keep up with them in the preseason, I will be all right so I will go one more time.”
Athlone Town: Katie Keane; Ciara O’Neill (Emily Burke 46), Kayleigh Shine, Jesi Rossman, Shauna Brennan; Roisin Molloy (Isabel Ryan 83), Kate Slevin (Taylor Anderson 89); Hazel Donegan (Maeve Wollmer 83), Kellie Brennan, Madison Gibson; Brenda Tabe.
Shelbourne: Amanda McQuillan; Jess Gargan, Pearl Slattery, Keeva Keenan; Christie Gray (Hannah Healy 71), Maggie Pierce, Alex Kavanagh (Rachel Graham 71), Roma McLaughlin (Rebecca Devereux 85), Leah Doyle; Noelle Murray (Jemma Quinn 79); Kate Mooney (Megan Smyth-Lynch 79).
Referee: Daniel Murphy.
- Sign up for push alerts and have the best news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone
- Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date
- Listen to our Inside Politics podcast for the best political chat and analysis
