Athlone Town wrapped up the double as a Kelly Brady hat-trick fired them past a gutsy Bohemians in an absorbing Sports Direct FAI Cup final on Sunday afternoon.
With the title boxed off a few weeks ago, John Sullivan's powerful side were fancied to get past a youthful Bohs team that finished 20 points behind Athlone in the league table.
It was far from plain sailing though. Alannah McEvoy put the underdogs ahead with a terrific early strike. Brady soon took over, nabbing two headers and a goal from close range to seemingly settle it before Aoibhe Brennan's 74th-minute belter set up a rollercoaster finale.
Athlone needed to summon all their grit and experince, but they held on to clinch a league and cup double for the first time in their history.
American-born Brady isn’t in Carla Ward’s Republic of Ireland squad for the upcoming Nations League play-off against Belgium, however she has been invited into train with the Girls in Green this week. The 23-year-old is surely knocking on the door for a full senior call-up having previously featured for the Under-19s.
Dark clouds cracked just before kick-off, the sun splashing onto a vibrant green Tallaght Stadium pitch.
Bohs, in their changed orange and pink strip, settled well in a fluid 4-2-3-1 shape.
Athlone looked ruffled from the off – and if they feared this might be trickier than many predicted pre-match, those fears were vindicated in the sixth minute.
McEvoy drifted in from the left and uncorked a superb dipping effort that screamed into the top corner. Goalkeeper Megan Plaschko didn’t even have time to react.
It was a great moment for Bohs, an injection of belief that energised them massively.
Aoibhe Brennan, Hannah Healy and Sarah McKevitt bossed the middle of the park in those early exchanges; the outsiders bringing an intense physicality that spooked Athlone.
The midlanders were almost gifted a leveller when casual play at the back allowed Gibson to steal in on a loose Roisin McGovern ball, but Rachael Kelly threw herself at Gibson’s feet to snuff out the danger.
The Gypsies looked comfortable; but you can never be comfortable when Brady is around. She equalised in the 23rd minute after Shauna Brennan bent in a peach of a cross from the left and this season’s Golden Boot winner guided a firm header to the net.
Brady threatened again soon after, glancing another header into Kelly’s arms following slick two-touch play from Hannah Waesch and Gibson. She was awake now, and becoming a serious problem.
Athlone began to tighten their grip on the contest, increasingly feeding their dangerous wide players higher up the pitch. That is rarely good news for opposition teams.
After Kate Slevin meandered her way through three players only to shoot straight at Kelly, the second Athlone goal arrived. With 36 minutes on the clock, Gibson arrowed a fantastic cross from deep onto Brady’s head, the 23-year-old expertly nodding it downwards into the corner.
Bohs grew frustrated, Sarah Power going in the book for petulantly booting the ball into the crowd. They were still in this at the break, trailing 2-1, but perhaps the Dubliners sensed their chance had gone.
Three minutes into the second period, Brady killed the game.
Gibson’s shot skittled off Roisin McGovern’s shins and spun into Brady’s path, her low shot squirming under Kelly’s right hand.
As the fans serenaded their star striker to the tune Paul Anka’s Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Brady continued to torment Bohs. She forced Kelly into an excellent stop with an angled rising drive; then Brady guided a left-footer over the bar after a clever shimmy in the box.
Bohs’ early energy sagged. They couldn’t sustain those levels against the champions, but Alban Hysa’s charges continued to plug away.
McEvoy scrapped tenaciously, Healy sprayed some clever passes, but they struggled for a cutting edge.
And then Aoibhe Brennan exhibited why she’s held in such high regard. With 16 minutes to go, the teenager took a touch before curling a gorgeous 25-yard effort into the top corner.
Suddenly Bohs were alive. Their fans, many housed in the North Stand, roared on every tackle and run as they sniffed an improbable comeback.
It was here when Athlone showed their big-game experience. As the clock ticked towards 90, they grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and largely starved Bohs of possession, surviving one injury-time free-kick and a couple of long deliveries to see it out.
Athlone Town: Megan Plaschko; Kellie Brennan, Kayleigh Shine, Natalie McNally, Shauna Brennan (Sarah Rice 72); Roisin Molloy (Isabeal Ryan 81), Hannah Waesch, Kate Slevin, Emma Mooney, Madi Gibson (capt); Emma Mooney (Chloe Singleton 80), Kelly Brady
Bohemians: Rachael Kelly (capt); Sarah Power, Roisin McGovern, Lisa Murphy, Katie Lovely (Katherine Malone 87); Aoibhe Brennan, Hannah Healy, Fiona Donnelly; Sarah McKevitt (Hannah O’Brien), Leiagh Glennon (Katie McCarn ht), Alannah McEvoy (Savannah Kane 88)
Referee: Lucas Keating
Attendance: 3,608
