- Christine Allen
- Sun, Oct 20 2024
The Reds ran riot in Dublin 24, breezing to a 6-1 victory over League of Ireland champions Athlone Town to reclaim FAI Cup bragging rights.
The heads of the Midlands faithful were left swirling as Eoin Wearen’s Shelbourne XI cruised to a showpiece victory over Ciaran Kildfuff’s All Blacks, securing retribution for last year's FAI Cup Final loss against their fiercest rivals.
Storm Ashley made her presence felt, controlling the ball as if it were a puppet on a string as WNT forewoman Eileen Gleeson and her coaching staff looked keenly on from their seats in Tallaght Stadium's West Stand.
Brenda Tabe sported dreadlocks for the occasion, her flair evident from the kick off as she weaved and charged towards the Red shirts, but Shels skipper Pearl Slattery was in no mood to play and muscled the Cameroon international off the ball on a loop.
Shelbourne looked the more physical of the two sides, Alex Kavanagh quickly making her presence felt against Midlands marauder Madison Gibson with a strong challenge.
Athlone Town's Kellie Brennan was the meat in a Christie Gray and Roma McLaughlin sandwich in the 7th minute - her fall triggering the Reds’ opener when a deceiving ball from McLaughlin was met with a dexterous flick by predator Kate Mooney - the number 24’s stealth unravelling the opposition's defence.
Tabe continued to seek out an achilles heel in the Reds backline but Keeva Keenan’s granite strength sealed all cracks.
Shelbourne soon led by two when a wild swing from Shauna Brennan caught Maggie Pierce just inside the lip of the box - Noelle Murray dispatching from the spot to secure her fifth cup final goal in the 15th minute.
The Town willed their Monmouth magician to produce something special from a free-kick in the 19th minute - the Reds wall dutifully deflecting Gibson’s set-piece.
Tabe was fortunate not to get booked when her boot grazed Keenan's socks - the forward’s frustration apparent as a strong Reds defence shut the title holders out.
A long ball from Kavanagh, who injected a sensational suavity in the Shelbourne attack then found markswoman Mooney - the number 24 hammering the turf in annoyance as her volley hurtled over the crossbar and dipped into the South Stand seats.
Jess Gargan netted the third for the Drumcondra debonairs on the half hour mark - a Mclaughlin whip sailing over the head of Jesi Rossman and finding the waiting defender who tapped it home.
As the RTÉ cameras shook with the strength of the violent gusts, Rossman tried her luck from long range but the ball would land harmlessly in the North Stand end.
Kate Mooney netted her brace in the 39th minute - Leah Doyle knocking the ball with the side of her boot towards the Reds assassin. The former Hearts markswoman did not miss a beat - chesting the switch with the grace of a Ronaldinho in his prime, before executing a neat finish with her right boot.
The fifth goal came from a swirling Kavanagh corner - Noelle Murray controlling the clearance with finesse before stroking it into the bottom right of Katie Keane’s net.
Leah Doyle then made it six for the Reds a minute from the break, slotting the ball home from close range to put the final beyond all doubt.
Brenda Tabe dumped a dollop of salve on the Towns red wound in the 45th minute when a strike from Rossman deflected fortuitously into her path - the number 16 firing with her left foot into the bottom right hand corner of Amanda McQuillan’s net.
Gibson looked to take the game by the scruff of the neck in the second half - Alex Kavanagh was shown a flash of the yellow for her attempt to extinguish any hint of a revival. Appeals for a penalty early in the second half were waved away when Tabe hit the deck - Mooney momentarily in the dock.
The remainder of the second half was scrappy, the unpredictable gusts forcing players to analyse their swings as if the Tallaght turf were a LPGA putting green.
The writing was on the wall for the Town as the minutes ticked down - Gibson seeing yellow for a heavy handed press at McLaughlin’s back.
Keane showed her mettle after an hour, the youngster parrying Murrays piledriver in a flash of brilliance that Gleeson is sure to have noted.
Kavanagh, who was a different class throughout, floated a Rolls Royce of a set-piece from 40 yards out in the 69th minute - forcing Keane to reach at full stretch to tip the ball to safety.
Wearen’s side were odds-on favourites to lift the Sports Direct Cup with 60 minutes of the finale left to play and did so in full view of the 3,118 spectators in attendance.
Tallaght Stadium was Red come the final whistle.
Athlone Town WFC: Katie Keane; Shauna Brennan, Ciara O'Neill (Emily Burke 46), Jesi Lynne Rossman, Kayleigh Shine; Kellie Brennan, Hazel Donegan (Maeve Wollmer 83), Madison Gibson, Roisin Molloy (Isabel Ryan 83), Kate Slevin (Taylor Anderson 89); Brenda Ebika Tabe.
Subs not used: Amy Mahon, Mary Philips, Laurie Ryan, Aoife Murphy O'Connor.
Booked: Madison Gibson (55), Kate Slevin (86).
Shelbourne W: Amanda McQuillan; Jessica Gargan, Keeva Keenan, Pearl Slattery; Leah F Doyle, Christie Gray (Hannah Healy 71), Alex Kavanagh (Rachel Graham 71), Roma McLaughlin (Rebecca Devereux 85), Maggie Pierce; Kate Mooney (Megan Smyth-Lynch 79), Noelle Murray (Jemma Quinn 79).
Subs not used: Jenna Willoughby, Nia Hannon, Lucy O'Rourke, Mia Dodd.
Booked: Alex Kavanagh (50).
Referee: Daniel Murphy.
extratime.com Player of the Match: Alex Kavanagh (Shelbourne).
Attendance: 3,118
