Athlone Town are Women’s FAI Cup Champions!

Athlone Town AFC emerged as the champions of the Sports Direct Women’s FAI Cup in a thrilling and unpredictable final at Tallaght Stadium on Sunday evening.

In a captivating cup final that concluded 2-2 after extra time, Athlone sealed their historic victory in a nerve-wracking penalty shootout. Dana Scheriff, Chloe Singleton (named Player of the Match), Kayleigh Shine, and Jesi Rossman all successfully converted their penalties, securing a 4-3 shootout win.

The Town started strongly and dominated the first half, deservedly entering halftime with a lead thanks to Scheriff’s goal. The American capitalized on a rebound off the post from Singleton’s cross, to give us the lead half an hour in to the game.

Shelbourne presented a tougher challenge in the second half, gradually gaining momentum. Jemma Quinn, a substitute, leveled the game in the 74th minute by sweeping home a rebound after Athlone keeper Katie Keane had parried a Kerri Letmon cross.

As the match extended into extra time, Shelbourne seemed poised for consecutive cup victories, with Quinn putting them ahead with a superb finish from the edge of the box, assisted by Pearl Slattery.

Undeterred, Athlone fought back and secured a dramatic equalizer when substitute Gillan Keenan found the back of the net at the back post from a right-wing cross in the dying minutes.

The subsequent penalty shootout sealed Athlone’s destiny, as Kavanagh’s missed penalty marked the end of The Town’s 99 year long wait for FAI Cup glory.