Ciaran Kilduff won it all in a glittering League of Ireland career as a player, but victory as Athlone Town manager in Sunday's Sports Direct FAI Women’s Cup final would hit a little differently.
The former Shamrock Rovers, Shelbourne and Dundalk striker retired when he was just 32 due to an accumulation on injuries having won three Premier Division titles [two with the Lilywhites, one with the Hoops], an FAI Cup and First Division crowns with UCD and Shels.
Still only 35, he succeeded Tommy Hewitt as Athlone boss back in June and galvanised a squad low on morale.
The midlanders were beaten 2-0 by Shels in last year’s cup final and then lost many of their best players to rival clubs in the off-season.
Now they have the chance to gain revenge on the Reds and embellish Kilduff’s fledgling managerial career with a piece of silverware.
"I was 32 when I retired, I’d some bad injuries," Kilduff said when reflecting on how he arrived at Athlone.
"I’ve a screw in my foot, I’d broken my back when at Dundalk. The money gets less and the work got more as you get older in the League of Ireland. Young family and Covid hit... so I thought I’d quit when I’m behind!
"I went from there and I went onto my A licence and I went and worked with Maynooth University and we got to a quarter-final final the FAI Cup, I was assistant manager, and we played Bohs and I got that grá back that you can still be involved here and get the same buzz.
"I’d never been far away from the League of Ireland. As I’ve said, no regrets so far and to be in an FAI Cup final so early into my tenure is something I couldn’t imagine happen."
Arguably the most memorable night of Kilduff’s career came at Tallaght Stadium, venue for Sunday’s showpiece collision.
His 72nd-minute strike against Maccabi Tel Aviv earned Dundalk a historic Europa League group game victory and etched the Kildare man into club folklore. Kilduff also won an FAI Cup with Dundalk in 2015 and he’s using all of that experience to convince his Athlone players they can get over the line.
"What I’m trying to do is make it as routine as ever because you can get involved tickets or venues or crowds and too much," he said.
"I probably experienced that in 2015 with Dundalk. It was my first time in a final, we won the final but I didn’t feel I was present as I wanted to be whereas this time I’m taking it all in because you don’t know if you’ll ever be here again.
"There are no guarantees with cup finals. You are trying to keep everyone’s feet on the ground but keep everyone motivated at the same time - you don’t want the occasion to overawe you and that goes for me and the players."
Kilduff acknowledged he’s got a few special Tallaght memories in the bank. Come Sunday afternoon, he’s hoping to add one more.
"I’d be familiar with Tallaght," he added. "I know it very well, I spent some great times here, both with Rovers and then Dundalk. It’s just different when you’re leading a group and you feel so responsible for the girls, the staff and the club who really want to be successful.
"Look it’s a first for the bulk of them, it’s a first for myself. I won a league here with Shamrock Rovers and I won a league here even with Dundalk, the Europa League stuff... it's a completely different build-up or approach when you’re trying to manage a group.
"There is responsibility on it, but I'm really looking forward to the day. I’m in the moment, I’m ready for it and I hope we can put our best foot forward."
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Watch the Women's FAI Cup final, Athlone Town v Shelbourne, on Sunday from 2.15pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to live radio commentary on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1.
