Shelbourne 2-1 Athlone Town
Shelbourne got their hands on the first silverware of the season and took bragging rights in an enthralling end-to-end Women's President’s Cup encounter under the watchful eye of new WNT team boss, Carla Ward.
Leading 2-0 at the break, with goals from player of the match Aoibheann Clancy and a Kayleigh Shine own goal, Eoin Wearen’s side were forced to endure a nervy ending when Roisin Molly slotted home a well taken penalty but showed their experience to get over the line.
It was fitting that last season's top two, who brought an end to a dramatic domestic season with that quite incredible FAI Cup Final back in October, where the two sides with their hands on the draw strings to raise the curtain of the 2025 season and provided a tantalising teaser of what is to come.
The reigning President Cup holders, and last seasons Champions, now under the tutelage of new manager and Athlone native Colin Fortune, who previously played for and managed the men's side, started brightly and almost bloodied the nose of the home side within the first minute when Aoife O’Connor dragged her volley inches wide of Amanda McQuillan’s bottom corner.
The hosts responded immediately when Roma McLoughlin junked her way inside the box and from a narrow angle forced Megan Plaschko into a sharp save at her near post.
Although there was no repeat of the barely believable encounter the last time the teams met, when Shels raced to a 6-0 half time lead, the Reds did get in front with a quarter of an hour played.
Following an onslaught of corners, the majestic McLaughlin eventually got two bites of the cherry to open the scoring but was unluckily denied with both headers in quick succession, the first of which blocked and bounced up kindly, allowing her to head again off the crossbar this time..
Shels again got the luck of the bounce with the ball dropping off the bar and down to the feet of former Wexford star, Aoibhean Clancy, who tapped home.
The visitors, and in particular star winger Madie Gibson, began to exert their dominance and really should have levelled before the break. The American initially stung the palms of Amanda McQuillan before going on a brilliant dribble down the left and cut back brilliantly to the feet of Kelly Brady who skied her effort with the goal at her mercy.
But on the stroke of half time it was a Shels suckerpunch that doubled their lead when Lucy O’Rourke’s smart ball in behind caused all sorts of confusion between Plaschko and Kayleigh Shine.
And under severe Kate Mooney pressure, coupled with the lack of communication at the back, forced the unfortunate Athlone defender to poke the ball past the onrushing keeper and into her own net.
With nothing to lose the visitors poured forward after the break but were again almost undone on the counter when Mooney slipped in Rebecca Devereux with a delightful pass, but her fellow strike could only hit the outside of the near post.
Shels narrow shape continued to allow the excellent Gibson freedom down the left who continued to create as her side failed to find the finishing touch to some dangerous openings and with 20-minutes remaining got a golden opportunity to half the deficit when Kelly Brady was clumsily brought down in the box by Keeva Keenan.
Roisin Molloy made no mistake from 12-yards to set up a grandstand finish.
Both sides showed no signs of early season rustiness as they went hell for leather for the remaining few minutes but it was the home side who held out to get their hands on the trophy at a packed Tolk Park.
Shelbourne: Amanda McQuillan; Lucy O’Rourke (Jess Gargan, 59), Keeva Keenan, Pearl Slattery, Leah Doyle; Rachel Graham (Gabriella Del Pico, 70), Aoibheann Clancy, Alex Kavanagh (Noelle Murray, 59) ; Rebecca Devereux (Mackenzie Anthony, 70), Roma McLoughlin, Kate Mooney (Jemma Quinn, 70)
Athlone: Megan Plaschko; Kellie Brennan, Kayleigh Shine, Natalie McNally, Shauna Brennan; Roisin Molloy, Israela Groves, Katherine Sullivan, Madison Gibson, Aoife O’Connor (Hazel Donegan, 65), Kelly Brady (Isabel Ryan, 87)
Referee: Ryan Maher
