Treaty United topped Group C in a hugely entertaining All-Island Cup encounter, eliminating one of the competition's favourites Athlone Town in the process, winning on a 3-1 scoreline.
With a plethora of permutations possible across the board on the final day of the group stages, two Women's Premier Division big hitters went head-to-head in a bid to top of one of the tightest groups.
First-half goals from Emma Goggin and Kyah Coady had the home side in control of the group at the break. Madie Gibson’s thunderous strike had given some brief hope but Skipper Katie Lawlee’s exquisite volley ensured a safe passage for the Limerick side.
Following on from the blockbuster news that 22-cap Irish International Lily Agg would take the reins soon, last seasons double winning visitors wasted no time in looking to exert their dominance and with just a couple of minutes on the clock forced Katherine Hess into a wonderful save when the league's top scorer Dana Scheriff got on the end of Gibson’s cross from the left.
Moments later Town skipper Hanna Waesch then rattled the crossbar from just inside the area, with the opening goal seemingly a matter of time.
But Laurie Ryan’s fearless side weathered the early pressure as the rip-roaring opening continued. Growing in confidence and moving the ball sharply, Katie Lawlee fed the ball out wide to Goggin. The right winger looped a cross/shot that caught Maria Matthaiou off guard as the ball sailed into the far top corner.
Moments later teenage star Madison McGuane played a sumptuous through ball to fellow Irish underage teammate Lawlee who found herself clear through on goal, but the player-of-the-match failed to hit the target on this occasion.
Not content with just one, the home side continued to press and harass their opposition and doubled their lead just before the half hour mark. Lalwee grabbed her second assist when her whipped corner was powered home by Coady prompting Hanna Waesch to call her shell shocked teammates into a huddle before the restart.
At the break, and facing down the barrel of elimination Dan Byrne called on two big hitters in the shape of Noelle Murray and Roisin Molloy in a bid to rescue something, knowing that even a draw would send both through.
And it almost paid dividends when Scheriff again rose highest in the area but saw her header clip the top of the bar.
The pressure finally told on the hour mark when the two subs combined from a well worked set-piece. Murray did well to knock down Molloy's corner to Gibson who made no mistake, smashing home from 12-yards.
To their credit the hosts didn't let their head drop and showed great character to restore their two goal lead just second later. Following some excellent forward play down the right, Ciara Breslin picked out Lawlee in the middle who let fly with an unstoppable first time volley.
It was all hands to the pump for the home side as Athlone pressed relentlessly and despite Gibson smashing the foot of the post in injury time a combination of solid defending and Emma Oliphant sweeping up everything in the midfield, ensured it was the hosts who deservedly progressed as group winners.
The Town had to settle for a third place, a point ahead Cork City who suffered late heartbreak with Cliftonville’s 97th minute equaliser proving enough to finish second in Group C.
Treaty United: Katherine Hess; Clodagh Daly, Grace McInerney, Kyah Coady, Sarah Rice; Emma Goggin, Kate Jones (Laura O’Neill, 67’), Emma Oliphant, Katie Lawlee; Madison McGuane, Ciara Breslin (Jodie Griffin, 78’)
Athlone Town: Maria Matthaiou; Kellie Brennan, Kayleigh Shine, Aimee Neal (Melissa O’Kane, 18’), Shauna Brennan; Alexis Strickland (Noelle Murray, 46’), Kerryanne Brown, Hanna Waesch, Madie Gibson; Dana Scheriff, Hazel Donegan (Roisin Molloy, 46’)
Subs not used: Courtney Maguire, Izzy Ryan, Niamh Dundon, Niamh Dundon, Michaela Hand
Referee: Paudie Hayes
