Shelbourne's Rachel Graham believes the current Galway United side are the best the club has put together in the SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division era ahead of Saturday's top-of-the-table clash with reigning double winners Athlone Town.
Galway proved their high-flying start to the 2026 season was no flash in the pan as they gave as good as they got on the way to a 0-0 draw at fellow contenders Shels at the weekend.
The result leaves Galway second, only kept off the top by Athlone's superior goal difference.
The Midlanders will provide another tough test of Galway's credentials but having seen them up close at Tolka Park on Saturday, Graham has been impressed as the former Republic of Ireland international told the RTÉ Soccer Podcast.
"I think they'll be up there challenging," she said.
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"I think that's the best Galway team I've ever seen and even their subs coming on were strong, so they'll definitely be up there come the end of the season. If they're not winning it, they're definitely second or third."
Meanwhile, an Athlone team spearheaded by the very sharp Dana Scheriff have been operating without a permanent head coach since John Sullivan's shock departure in March after the opening game of the season.
However, the rumour mill has now gone into overdrive with suggestions that Ireland midfielder Lily Agg could be taking the vacancy.
The 32-year-old is currently in the early stages of recovering from a ruptured achilles, a devastating blow which had followed shortly after her return from an ACL injury. Last week, it was confirmed that she would be released by Birmingham City.
However, the 2023 World Cup squad member was an interested observer on Saturday as Athlone edged Treaty United 1-0.
"It's obviously flying around now in women's football circles that Lily Agg was at the game," she said
"I can't imagine she's going to Athlone on her holidays. I think there's obviously something deeper there. She was in the crowd watching the match and obviously she has her injury now and is she looking potentially at going into coaching, going into management?
"She has done her licences, I think she's up to her A Licence or she's on her A Licence. So the rumour mill is at the minute that she's the new Athlone manager or she's going into coaching.
"Maybe (Athlone) are just thinking outside the box. They were kind of strong on wanting a female (coach) in the role so they've obviously gone out and abroad to try and get the best that they can.
"It's just a rumour at the minute, nothing confirmed, but it would be strange (if it's not her). I can't see why she'd be in Athlone for any other reason."
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