Shelbourne blitz denies Athlone Town in FAI Cup

The loss is Lily Agg’s first as manager and it denied Athlone the chance of becoming just the second women’s side to do a famous 'double, double'

Shelbourne captain Pearl Slattery lifts the Club Orange Women's FAI Cup alongside her teammates after their win over Athlone Town. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Athlone Town: 1 Shelbourne: 3 

Shelbourne bagged their second cup of the season, and their fourth FAI Cup, with a first-half blitz of champions Athlone Town.

Goals from Halle Harcourt, Alex Kavanagh and Maeve Wollmer not only inflicted Lily Agg’s first defeat as manager despite Hannah Waesch late consolation, it denied Athlone the chance of becoming just the second women’s side to do a famous 'double, double' after Raheny United.

Form tends to go out the window on such grand occasions, and that's just what happened as the Reds won their fourth FAI Cup over a side brimming with confidence having been crowned champions a record third time the night before thanks to Wexford's victory over Galway United.

Under the watchful eye of national team boss Carla Ward, and with just seven minutes played, the Reds spurned a glorious chance to land the first blow when former Town winger Maeve Wollmer released Bella Flocchini through on goal. The attacking midfielder cut inside but was denied at point-blank range by Maria Matthaiou.

Moments later Shels did get the goal their impressive start deserved when Alex Kavanagh delivered yet another devilishly delivered free-kick into the danger zone. Matthaiou seemed to be caught off-guard by the bounce just in front and parried the ball up in the air and teen sensation Harcourt reacted quickest to volley home.

RED LETTER DAY: Isabella Flocchini of Shelbourne in action against Kelis Barton of Athlone Town during the 2026 Club Orange Women's FAI Cup final at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Games between the top two have tended to be notoriously tight affairs, with the odd goal separating them in their last four meetings before a dramatic draw earlier in the season, and the champions almost hit back immediately following a clever move between Alexis Strickland and Izzy Ryan on the right that saw the former acrobatically denied by Mya Sanchez.

Kavanagh was dominating the middle of the park and doubled her sides lead with a stunning free kick from just left of the penalty area Just before the break Town were stunned when the razor-sharp Wollmer pounced to make it three.

Agg opted for a double substitution at the break, switching formation as their grip on the trophy slipped. And the changes almost had the desired effect only to be denied three times in quick succession by the outstanding Sanchez.

The American stopper stood big to block the league's top scorer, Sheriff, from six yards out, quickly following it by somehow tipping Melissa O’Kane’s shot from distance onto the bar and then reacting immediately to deny Hannah Waesch on the follow-up.

Despite the late onslaught, Shels showed the other side of the game, digging in despite the late concession to Waesch who finished beautifully.

Athlone Town: M Matthaiou; S Brennan (M O’Kane, 46’), P Hampson (K Brennan, 46’), K Barton (E Mooney, 64’), K Shine; K Brown (C Singleton, 79’), H Waesch; I Ryan (R Molloy, 64’), A Strickland (N Murray, 82’), M Gibson; D Scheriff.

Shelbourne: M Sanchez; L Doyle, P Slattery (capt), N Hannon (R Graham 82), J Gargan; A Kavanagh, I Flocchini, A Kelly, M Wollmer (75 K Keenan); O Damico (K Mooney 60), H Harcourt (R Watkins 60) 

Referee: M Patchell.