FAI Women’s Cup Final Report: Athlone Town 0 – 2 Shelbourne

Jessie Stapleton celebrates scoring Shels' opening goal in the cup final

Jessie Stapleton celebrates scoring Shels' opening goal in the cup final Credit: Peter Fitzpatrick (ETPhotos)

Goals from Jessie Stapleton and Pearl Slattery landed Shelbourne their second trophy in two weeks at Tallaght Stadium on Sunday evening with the Reds bringing home the FAI Women’s Cup to accompany their recently retained league title.

 

The first half of this cup final will be one that Athlone ‘keeper Niamh Coombes will want to forget. It took just six minutes for Shels to take the lead and the manner of the goal was deeply disappointing for an Athlone team that have performed so admirably all season.

A free kick from the left was floated in by Shelbourne’s Alex Kavanagh and while it looked like an easy take for Coombes she allowed the ball to slip out of her hands and it bounced into the net off the back of Stapleton.

The Midlanders duly applied themselves to recovering the deficit with Roisin Molloy always a threat down their right wing. But when they came, Athlone’s chances were never clear cut and despite the best efforts of Molloy, Amanda Budden had little to do in the Shels goal.

Midway through the opening half Athlone were dealt another blow when Megan Smyth-Lynch swung a corner into the goalmouth. Coombes got to the pitch of it but her punched clearance was weak and Shels’ captain Pearl Slattery powered in to head home from close range.

The Reds looked comfortable for the remainder of the half, confidently repelling Athlone’s best efforts at reducing the deficit and when they came out for the second half Athlone had a mammoth task ahead of them.

Shels started well, Smyth-Lynch drawing an excellent save from Coombes and then Keeva Keenan sent her intended cross onto the Athlone bar. With an hour played Athlone remained two goals down and the Midlanders made a triple change seeking a breakthrough.

Kellie Brennan, Kate Slevin and Kayleigh Shine came into the fray and moments later Molloy’s pass was inches away from releasing Brennan on goal. Molloy then sent a fierce shot spinning just wide of the Shels goal before Scarlett Herron tested Budden’s reflexes from distance.

The changes worked and soon Athlone were firmly on the front foot. Gibson started to exert the kind of influence she is capable of and Kellie Brennan made a huge difference. But as the minutes played out Shelbourne’s wise heads prevailed.



Gradually the possibilities ran out for the Midlanders as the Reds slowed the game down and took the ball to far distant corners. Five minutes of added time weren’t enough for Tommy Hewitt’s team and the whistle, when it came, announced Shelbourne not just as Cup winners but as League & Cup double champions.

Shelbourne: Amanda Budden; Jess Gargan, Pearl Slattery, Shauna Fox, Leah Doyle; Keeva Keenan (Rachel Graham 77), Jess Stapleton, Alex Kavanagh (Emma Starr 90+2), Megan Smyth-Lynch (Heather O’Reilly 72); Abbie Larkin; Noelle Murray (Jemma Quinn 90+2).

Subs Not Used: Courtney Maguire (gk), Lia O’Leary, Taylor White, Aoife Kelly, Leah Riley.

Booked: Pearl Slattery (54).

Athlone Town: Niamh Coombes; Melissa O’Kane, Jessica Hennessy, Kelsey Munroe (Kayleigh Shine 60); Laurie Ryan; Roisin Molloy (Millie Daly 89), Muireann Devaney, Scarlett Herron (Lucy-Jayne Grant 90+2), Maddison Gibson; Gillian Keenan (Kate Slevin 60), Emily Corbet (Kellie Brennan 60).

Subs Not Used: Bonnie McKiernan (gk), Ciara Glackin (gk), Emma McGrath, Antea Guvo.



Booked: Roisin Molloy (43).

Referee: Sean Grant.

Attendance: 5,073

Player of the Match: Jessie Stapleton (Shelbourne)

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