Agg eyes more Tallaght glory as Athlone chase double double

The South Dublin venue holds fond memories for Lily Agg as a player

In attendance at the Club Orange Women’s FAI Cup Final media day at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin, is from left, Athlone Town manager Lily Agg, Athlone Town captain Hannah Waesch and Noelle Murray of Athlone Town. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile

Athlone Town go in the search for an unprecedented 'double double' as Lily Agg takes her juggernaut to a place they are familiar with at this stage, Tallaght Stadium, for their fifth FAI Cup final in a row.

The South Dublin venue also holds fond memories for Agg as a player, the site where she bravely headed home the winner against Finland that helped Ireland secure a World Cup playoff spot and put them on the road to the World Cup in Australia. 

The 32-year-old now sets her sights on creating more history - this time from the dugout.

Against a familiar foe — their third meeting in the showpiece in the last four seasons — Sean Russell’s vastly experienced Reds stand in the way of yet more Cup glory as both managers do battle in their first FAI Cup final.

Having all but sealed the title, dubbed the 'three-peat in Westmeath', needing a solitary point from their remaining three games, the Town have been in unstoppable form and boast an unbeaten run since Agg took the reins. They've dropped points just once, drawing at home to Shels in an enthralling encounter.

Since overcoming another title hopeful in Galway United in a dramatic semi-final penalty shootout to earn yet another big day out, the Town's league form has been impeccable. Despite some panic over Hannah Waessch's red card at the UCD Bowl last Saturday raising questions over the skipper's eligibility, that suspension will carry instead to the next league game meaning Athlone will be as close to full strength as possible. The league's top striker Dana Scheriff bagged a brace last Saturday, her first goals in two months, and looked back to her clinical best. 

Shels - cup winners in 2022 and 2024 - have had more of a disjointed preparation. Having already bagged the All-Island Cup, they have encountered disruption on and off the field. Out went Irish International Aoibheann Clancy, replaced by the exciting Bella Flocchini and Katie McCarn, and there was a welcome return to the squad for hotshot Kate Mooney and the dangerous Becky Watkins to bolster Russell’s attacking options.

But losing two crucial games in a row has not been ideal. Firstly a damaging defeat away in Sligo all but ended their title hopes. Then their unbeaten home run was ended by Shamrock Rovers in a feisty Dublin derby. There was also a surprise omission of one of the league's best defenders in Maggie Pierce from last Saturday’s side, one to keep an eye on.

But despite the recent unease in Drumcondra, it is a final and as the  overused cliche goes, form does tend to go out the window in games like these.