Double contenders Athlone ready for 'ultimate battle' with familiar FAI Cup foes Shelbourne

admin admin | 09-24 00:16

Athlone Town's Shauna Brennan is relishing the prospect of a third consecutive Women's FAI Cup final showdown against Shelbourne on 20 October.

Holders Athlone edged Sligo Rovers 1-0 in their semi-final on Sunday to set up a rematch against the team they lost to in the final in 2022 before gaining revenge on penalties last year.

"I was delighted to get the goal and get us over the line. We don't really care who gets the goals. We have been unlucky with injuries someone different steps up.

"Sligo put it up to us and fought all the way to the end but thankfully we hung in there."

Athlone are also in contention for a first SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division title. Winning their game in hand at Wexford midweek would see the table-toppers take a five-point lead over Galway and Shels into the final three games of the season.

Is the double do-able?

"You have to believe it," said Brennan.

"We have to go down to Wexford on Wednesday so we know that that's going to be a tough game.

"Things can happen. You can play well and lose, you can play badly and win. It just comes down to what happens on the day.

"We're going to put up our best fight and see how we go."

The title race looks set to go down to the wire

Manager Ciarán Kilduff warned there was still a lot of work to do to try and even ensure one trophy.

"You have to win one before you win two and we're nowhere near winning either at the minute; we have a bit to do," he said.

"We usually play on Saturdays and you come in on Sunday evening and you're got a match on Wednesday. It's a quick turnaround and we're in uncharted waters a little bit. We'll debrief, get rid of it as quick as we can, pick the positives and then move on to a huge run-in.

"We have three games in six days, with Wexford and then Shamrock Rovers the following Saturday. They are coming thick and fast and we have no real time to dwell on things which is probably a good thing because tonight we weren't at our best."

Kilduff feels his side can improve a lot when they renew acquaintances with Shelbourne at Tallaght Stadium in next month's final.

"I don't think we played our best stuff; we're at that stage of the season where we are dragging ourselves along. We knew what we were going to get out of Sligo which was a very competitive game. They have some excellent players and were well set up to frustrate us.

"I thought in the first half we were the better team but weren't hitting the heights. In the second half, I was looking for a reaction and it didn't come. The game kinda petered out and I don't think they had many major chances but we hadn't put the game near out of their reach.

"It felt a little bit flat afterwards; we hold ourselves to higher standards. The objective at the start of the campaign was can we get an FAI Cup final? We've done that but in terms of a performance there is a lot to reflect on, but we are delighted to now be in the final.

"A lot of the players know each other and there will be a lot of quality on show. They tend to be great games. There is another one for the people to look forward to and I hope we get a good crowd. We're lucky enough to be there and we are going to relish the occasion."

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