Athlone Town's Jessica Hennessy is dreaming of club glory and international recognition ahead of the EVOKE.ie FAI Women's Cup final this Sunday.
The 6'1" centre-half has been superb for the midlanders this season, turning in a string of massive performances in their quest to win the double.
Athlone's unlikely - yet hugely impressive - push for the title ended unsuccessfully last Saturday night when Shelbourne pipped them by a point, but they could still have the last laugh when the two teams square up in the cup decider at Tallaght Stadium.
Hennessy was also called into the Republic of Ireland's home-based training squad back in August, and is desperate to continue her excellent progress.
"It was a little bit of a shock to be honest," she said of her Ireland call-up.
"I was enjoying my soccer and I was delighted to be called in. It happens once a month. Me, Muireann Devaney and Emily Corbet, the three of us headed up.
"It was just a training session; it was really good. Different girls from the League, DLR Waves and Shels etc. It's a one and a half-hour/two-hour training session and I really enjoyed it. There is one next week after the cup final because there are international games coming up.
"I was fierce excited but was nervous coming up. It’s a big step up but I was buzzing and couldn’t wait to get involved.
"All the players are really targeting maybe not going to the World Cup but getting onto the team in a few years. It is a massive step for women’s football in Ireland, everyone is buzzing for it."
Tommy Hewitt brought the Westmeath 21-year-old to Athlone in 2021 [Hennessy studies at Athlone IT] and she's been a crucial part of their progress ever since.
"It's mad," she reflected. "At the start of the season, we set out goals to have a good cup run, and we are doing that now. Another one was to beat Peamount and Shelbourne at home, take points off the top three teams. We have achieved all that.
"We are just delighted with how far we have come. It’s a new enough club.
"Tommy is a great manager. He just brings us all in together and nothing is ever negative. It’s always positive and if you make mistakes, it’s not the end of the world.
"He lets us do whatever he thinks is right. There is no, 'do this or do that'. He lets us play our own game and that benefits us all. We are not afraid to put a foot wrong."
Had things gone a little differently Hennessy could be wearing a red shirt on Sunday instead of a blue and black one. She played for Shels at underage level and knows quite a few past and present Reds players.
"We won the cup with Shelbourne at U-17, and I left after that because I was doing my Leaving Cert. My dad used to bring me up and down, an hour and 15 mins each way. He loves it just as much as me, and I’m very grateful for everything he has done for me.
"Shels were saying to sign for the first team but I was doing my Leaving Cert, stressed enough with that and training three/four times a week. I was playing county football with Westmeath at the time too so I couldn’t really. I didn’t leave on bad terms or anything like that, they were all so lovely up there."
Right now her only focus is on bringing that cup back to the town of Athlone.
"Athlone is buzzing with all the flags and bunting. Everyone is so excited. My little cousin Alice is a mascot for Sunday and walking out with me and telling all her friends. She is so excited.
"Even in Westmeath, everyone is coming up to me saying best of luck.
"Shelbourne have lots of experience, but we have the likes of Laurie Ryan, who is a brilliant captain. She will keep our heads turned on. We have beaten them, they beat us, and we drew.
"Anything can happen on the day, especially in a cup final. We are open to all possibilities."
Watch the Women's FAI Cup final, Athlone Town v Shelbourne, live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player on Sunday from 2.30pm with live radio commentary on RTÉ Radio 1 and follow a live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and RTÉ News app
