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Women's FAI Cup final preview: Bohemians out to scupper Athlone Town's double dream

Athlone Town and Bohs players and management line up with the cup
Athlone Town and Bohs players and management line up with the cup

Sports Direct Women's FAI Cup final
Athlone Town v Bohemians, Tallaght Stadium, 3pm (live on TG4)


After three consecutive Women's FAI Cup finals between Shelbourne and Athlone Town, a fresh challenger takes to the stage in Tallaght this afternoon.

A youthful Bohemians will attempt to upset the odds by taking down league champions Athlone, who are gunning for a first double.

Bohs finished seventh in the SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division, 20 points off the winners, but they served notice of their potential by making it to the All-Island Cup final during the summer, losing to Wexford on penalties.

They also rattled the Midlanders when they met in the league in August, racing into a two-goal lead at Dalymount Park before Athlone clawed it back to earn a point thanks to goals from Kelly Brady and Roisin Molloy.

Therein lies the challenge for Bohs. Alban Hysa's team must find a way to nullify the array of attacking weapons their opponents have at their disposal.

Molloy and Madi Gibson are lethal out wide, providing pace and quality service in the final third.

Brady, the division's golden boot winner, gleefully feeds off that service. The American-born 23-year-old will link up with the Republic of Ireland squad on Monday after being invited in to train, along with Maria Reynolds of Shamrock Rovers.

Brady isn't officially part of Carla Ward's panel for the Nations League promotion/relegation play-off against Belgium, but she's clearly on the radar, and a star turn today would do her longer-term chances no harm.

Athlone's attack is quick and direct, built on a solid bedrock. Izzy Groves and Hannah Waesch are a formidable partnership in the engine room, while the likes of Kellie Brennan, Kayleigh Shine, Natalie McNally, Shauna Brennan and impressive keeper Megan Plaschko run a tight ship at the back.

23 August 2025; Kelly Brady of Athlone Town celebrates after scoring her side's second goal during the SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division match between Athlone Town and Shelbourne at Athlone Town Stadium in Westmeath. Photo by Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile
Kelly Brady has enjoyed a fine season

Goalscoring hasn't been an issue for Bohs, who netted 42 times in the league this season; they'll be confident of asking questions going forward. Their issue is at the back. While Athlone conceded just ten times across the campaign, Bohs shipped 34 goals.

It's the biggest area of concern for Hysa, who said in the build-up: "We feel that if we don't concede, we’ll win this final, because we always score goals."

They do have experienced operators such as steely defender Lisa Murphy and goalkeeper Rachael Kelly, while the likes of Alannah McEvoy (with Peamount United in 2020) and Hannah Healy (with Shels in 2023 and 2024) have featured in FAI Cup finals before. Keep an eye out too for excellent young midfielder Aoibhe Brennan (17), who has been nominated for the Young Player of the Year award.

Athlone wrapped up the title a few weeks ago, and are desperate to put the cherry on top of what's been a great campaign.

Last year, they won the league with a game to spare but were hammered 6-1 in the cup final by Shelbourne, with the winds of Storm Ashley blowing everything Shels' way.

Aoibhe Brennan of Bohemians during the Sports Direct Women's FAI Cup semi-final match between Bohemians and Treaty United at Dalymount Park in Dublin
Bohs midfielder Aoibhe Brennan

They're extremely hungry to atone for that here, absorbing the shock departure of manager Colin Fortune in September to keep the wins coming after John Sullivan took the reins.

We might get a lucky break on the weather front for the 55th women's FAI Cup final, with heavy rain forecast to clear by the afternoon.

If the elements are kind, this should be an entertaining contest, and closer than the teams' league positions suggest.

Athlone clearly possess enough experience and quality to do the business, but Bohs have an opportunity to at least show the country they are a coming side.


THE MANAGERS' VIEWS

John Sullivan (Athlone Town): "I'm a big believer in making the days count rather than counting days. I know it sounds philosophical, but try and live in it. They're amazing athletes. They're positive, they're energetic, they're incredible. The aura about the group is very motivating."

Alban Hysa (Bohemians): "We need them to have an off day. They've just won the league, played in Europe and have amazing players. For a young team like ours, it’s a mountainous task. We’re well aware of being underdogs but anything can happen in a cup final. We’d need to be 100% but the opposition might be a little bit off it and you get joy."


THE CAPTAINS' VIEWS

Izzy Groves (Athlone Town): "It would be history for the club. That's what we have done this season and we want to continue to do that. I think our group is an amazing group. We wanted to do well, we wanted to push ourselves and be the best we could be. I think we've done that, and more, and just proved ourselves that we can do anything we put our minds to."

Rachael Kelly (Bohemians): "Athlone have done great things. They've gotten the league’s name out there in the Champions League and they’ve done amazing things. There’s that underdog feeling, but sometimes there is no better feeling. You go out there and give it absolutely everything you have, and ultimately you hope it works for you on the day."


Prediction: Athlone Town 2-1 Bohemians


PATHS TO THE FINAL

Athlone Town
First round:
Athlone Town 6-0 Terenure Rangers
Quarter-finals: Peamount United 0-1 Athlone Town
Semi-finals: Shamrock Rovers 0-2 Athlone Town

Bohemians
First round: Wexford 1-2 Bohemians
Quarter-finals: Newbridge Town 1-7 Bohemians
Semi-finals: Bohemians 2-0 Treaty United


Past FAI Cup final attendances at Tallaght Stadium
2020:
Peamount United 6-0 Cork City (played with no fans present due to Covid-19)
2021: Wexford Youths 3-1 Shelbourne (3,053)
2022: Shelbourne 2-0 Athlone Town (5,073)
2023: Athlone Town 2-2 Shelbourne, Athlone won on penos (3,536)
2024: Athlone Town 1-6 Shelbourne (3,118)

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