Athlone Town Are Women’s Premier Division Champions!
Athlone Town have made history by securing their first-ever SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division title with a 2-0 victory over Bohemians at Athlone Town Stadium. Madison Gibson and Kellie Brennan found the back of the net, clinching the win and making Athlone only the fifth team to claim the league title since 2012.
Shelbourne’s 3-0 victory over Peamount United earlier in the day kept the title race alive until the very end. However, Athlone’s superior head-to-head record guaranteed them the championship with one game remaining, set to be played against Galway United on Saturday, October 12th.
The breakthrough arrived in the 26th minute when the recently announced September Player of the Month winner Madison Gibson pounced on a poor clearance from Bohemians goalkeeper Rachael Kelly, driving forward to fire in her seventh goal of the season. Just seven minutes later, Brennan doubled the advantage, skillfully turning her defender inside the box before finishing from close range. Athlone came close to adding a third, with Gibson missing the target and Brenda Tabe striking the crossbar with a powerful header.
Bohemians attempted to rally, but Athlone goalkeeper Katie Keane stood firm, securing her 10th clean sheet of the season. The victory marked Athlone’s 15th win of this historic campaign.
The Women’s Premier Division title adds to the club’s growing list of honours won by this great team, which also features last year’s Women’s FAI Cup triumph and consecutive President’s Cup victories. Ciaran Kilduff’s squad now sets their sights on completing a domestic double, as they prepare to face Shelbourne once again in the Sports Direct Women’s FAI Cup Final on October 20th at Tallaght Stadium, kicking off at 3pm.