EVOKE.ie FAI Women's Cup final
Shelbourne v Athlone Town, Tallaght Stadium, 3pm
TV
Live coverage on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player from 2.30pm
RADIO
Live radio coverage on RTÉ Radio 1's Sunday Sport.
ONLINE
Live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and RTÉ News app.
WEATHER
Sunny spells with scattered heavy showers are expected in Tallaght so dress accordingly if you're heading to the match. We'll have highest temperatures of 12 or 13 degrees and some fresh to strong and gusty south to southwest winds. Standard.
Established powerhouses take on the league's surprise package
It's a clash between one of the big guns and the valiant underdogs.
For the second year in a row, Shelbourne are chasing a double at Tallaght Stadium having snatched the league title in another dramatic final day last weekend.
Twelve months ago Noel King's team were crowned champions when they defeated Wexford Youths and Peamount United collapsed at home to Galway.
This year things were even tighter.
Wexford Youths, Shels and Athlone all had a chance to lift the trophy going into the final day.
In the end Shels hammered Wexford 4-0 to take the glory, but Athlone - in only their third year of existence - pushed them right to the bitter end.
Tommy Hewitt's charges have been the story of the season. Nobody, probably not even themselves, would have expected them to be in the mix for honours come October/November but they've proven throughout the year that they're a match for anyone.
Athlone have played Shelbourne three times this year - lost one (2-0), drew one (1-1), won one (2-0).
"We probably weren't really looking at them at the start of the year as being out competitors for the league but absolute credit to them, they've been brilliant," Shels veteran Rachel Graham said this week.
"The togetherness of them... they've just work so hard for each other. They don't have an absolute superstar that they are relying on each week. They're a great team."
This will, no doubt, be a clash of styles.
Hewitt has Athlone very well organised, marshalled at the back by the excellent Jessica Henessy and sprinkled with real talent [keep an eye out for Emily Corbet, Muireann Devaney and American attacker Maddison Gibson in particular].
Shels' pedigree speaks for itself. Abbie Larkin and Jessie Stapleton are two of their standout young guns, Pearl Slattery, Graham and USA World Cup winner Heather O'Reilly provide incredible experience and pedigree.
They are well used to being the standard-bearers.
"The minute the season starts, everyone wants to beat you," captain Slattery said.
"Everyone wants to beat Shels, but especially when you are champions everyone is out for you. To carry that on throughout the season, to hit the dip and have everyone doubt us, but to go again and have that run-in was unbelievable.
"The older you are, and you don't know how many years you have left, after every season I just sit back and think, 'can I give what I gave last year?', and then I decide what I'm going to do.
"The more experienced you are, you really cherish those nights like last Saturday. I was standing on the pitch watching everyone else and I was nearly getting more joy watching the girls than celebrating myself."
Shels were denied a double in the cup final last year when Wexford Youths deservedly beat them 3-1. The feeling in the Reds' camp this week has been that they took their eye off the ball in the run-up to that decider. Mistakes were made - and they won't be made again.
"We made a lot of mistakes in terms of celebrating [last year]," King admitted.
"We did want to win it of course but we took our eye off the ball and I take responsibility for that. We were there last season and we got beaten, so you would say there is unfinished business."
Logic suggests Shels possess a bit more quality - and certainly more experience of the big occasion - and that will tell this afternoon.
But Athlone have been defying logic all season. Nobody has it easy against the midlanders, who've been a breath of fresh air in the division.
"We're looking forward to it, we're going out to win," said Hewitt [above].
"I think that's what we've done all season. A lot of people have said we're very defensive, but we're not defensive. All our players have been fantastic.
"It's one game that we're really, really looking forward to. We're going to have to be really on our A game but we're really looking forward to it."
Expect a close, cagey game that will be contested ferociously.
Prediction: Shelbourne 2-1 Athlone Town
CUP FINAL SQUADS
Shelbourne: 1. Amanda Budden, 2. Jess Gargan, 3. Jessie Stapleton, 4. Pearl Slattery, 5. Shauna Fox, 6. Alex Kavanagh, 7. Heather O'Reilly, 8. Rachel Graham, 9. Abbie Larkin, 10. Noelle Murray, 11. Megan Smyth-Lynch, 12. Keeva Keenan, 13. Leah Doyle, 15. Jemma Quinn, 16. Lia O'Leary, 17. Taylor White, 18. Aoife Kelly, 19. Kate O'Dowd, 21. Emma Starr, 22. Nia Hannon, 25. Leah Riley, 26. Leah Donnelly, 30. Katie Keane, 31. Ciara Giles, 38. Courtney Maguire
Athlone Town: 1. Niamh Coombes, 2. Fiona Owens, 3. Kayleigh Shine, 4. Leah Brady, 5. Jessica Hennessy, 6. Muireann Devaney, 7. Gillian Keenan, 8. Dana Scheriff, 9. Emily Corbet, 10. Kellie Brennan, 11. Laurie Ryan, 12. Maddison Gibson, 13. Kelsey Munroe, 14. Roisin Molloy, 15. Lucy Jane Grant, 16. Bonnie McKiernan, 17. Scarlett Herron, 18. Kate Slevin, 19. Emma McGrath, 20. Aoife Murphy O'Connor, 21. Ciara O’Neill, 22. Melissa O'Kane, 23. Antea Guvo, 24. Millie Daly, 30. Ciara Glackin
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
