Six-goal storm sweeps Athlone away as Shels regain Women's FAI Cup 

RED OCTOBER: Noelle Murray of Shelbourne, second from left, celebrates after scoring her side's fifth goal during the Sports Direct Women's FAI Cup Final between Athlone Town and Shelbourne at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

ATHLONE TOWN 1 SHELBOURNE 6

Storm Ashley hit Athlone in the shape of six first-half goals that steered Shelbourne to regaining the Women’s FAI Cup from the Midlands outfit.

In an incredible first-half at Tallaght Stadium, Kate Mooney and Noelle Murray struck a brace apiece, added to be Jess Gargan and Leah Doyle goals.

Brenda Tabe’s reply was always going to be a consolation. They had a full half to further reduce the deficit but Shels goalkeeper Amanda McQuillan’s first save came in stoppage time from Athlone sub Emily Burke.

It’s still a stellar season for Town, having claimed their first ever title, but Shels are back on the trophy trail, their first piece of silverware since the 2023 double.

Athlone’s prospects suffered a blow before a ball was kicked with the news that captain Laurie Ryan has sustained an injury. That knock restricted her to a place on the bench and how her experience and composure was missed as disarray seeped in.

It began with the seventh-minute breakthrough, a calamity of errors from an Athlone perspective. While they claimed for a free-kick near the halfway line, Roma McLaughlin played on and whipped in a cross from the right. Neither Shauna Brennan nor goalkeeper Katie Keane dealt with the danger, allowing Kate Mooney to nip in and trickle the ball over the line.

Mooney was one of Shels’ key captures this season, the former Peamount United striker returning from a spell in England with Lewes, but McLaughlin’s comeback from America has been similarly vital.

They had their second on 15 minutes from the penalty spot when Brennan’s late challenge on Maggie Pierce gave Murray the opportunity of sending Keane the wrong way.

Keane, called into the Ireland squad for the Euro playoff semi-final in Georgia on Friday, was guilty of hesitation again on the half hour. McLaughlin had her second assist by floating the ball over Jesi Rossman’s head, and Jess Gargan roamed from wing-back to prod the ball past the static goalkeeper.

Three became four soon after. Brennan’s clearance only got to Leah Doyle’s whose lofted pass was telegraphed for Mooney to chest the ball down and steer her volley into the top corner.

There was still time for two more. Murray – playing her eleventh final in 17 years - volleyed through a thicket of bodies and, from another uncleared corner four minutes later, Doyle sent her rising volley into the top corner.

Dizzy from that deluge, Athlone finally engineered an attack in stoppage time, with Brenda Tabe expertly firing low beyond McQuillan.

SHELBOURNE (3-5-2): A McQuillan; J Gargan, P Slattery, K Keena; C Gray (R Graham 71), R McLoughlin (R Devereux 85), A Kavanagh (H Healy 71), M Pierce, L Doyle; N Murray (J Quinn 79), K Mooney (M Smyth-Lynch 80).

ATHLONE TOWN (4-4-2): K Keane; C O’Neill (E Burke 46), J Rossman, K Shine, S Brennan; M Gibson, H Donegan (I Ryan 83), K Slevin (T Anderson 89), R Molloy (M Wollmer 83); K Brennan, B Tabe.

Referee: Daniel Murphy (Dublin).

Attendance: 3,118.