PREVIEW | EVOKE.ie FAI Women's Cup Final

PREVIEW | EVOKE.ie FAI Women's Cup Final

It all comes down to this...one game to decide who will lift the EVOKE.ie FAI Women's Cup on Sunday, November 6th.

Shelbourne were runners-up at this stage of the competition in 2021, while Athlone Town were watching from a distance as this is their first ever Cup Final appearance. Both will be fired up to do what it takes to become winners.

The setting of Tallaght Stadium is appropriate considering it is the venue where a record crowd for the Cup Final was set last year and it is also where the Republic of Ireland Women's National Team achieved such historic results on their way to qualifying for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.

This has been an incredible year for women's football in Ireland and the Cup Final should add to that with the top two teams in the SSE Airtricity Women's National League going to face off in what promises to be a thrilling game.

Shelbourne are hunting for a domestic double after clinching the WNL title on the final day and a second Cup triumph - following their maiden win in 2016. Noel King knows what it takes to lead a winning team so his experience will be vital to their pursuit.

The Reds have former United States international Heather O'Reilly back in their squad, but even she will face a fight to break into the starting XI following the exceptional recent form of players like Abbie Larkin, Megan Smyth-Lynch and Alex Kavanagh.

Athlone Town will also have selection headaches because of having so many talented players eager to feature in the game. Manager Tommy Hewitt will likely stick with consistency but he will be pleased to have options to consider for the biggest game in their history.

The Midlanders started this year's competition with a bang after beating Whitehall Rangers 7-0 and then overcoming Cork City in the quarter-finals before dumping out Cup holders Wexford Youths en route to the Final.

Shelbourne were given a bye straight to the quarter-finals, where they got past Peamount United in a tight encounter and that set up a semi-final joust with Bohemians, which they narrowly won by a single goal.

It all leads to this Cup Final, which is incredibly tight to call from all observers and that makes it even more exciting. One thing that is certain is that women's football will be the real winner.

Squad Lists

Shelbourne: 1. Amanda Budden, 2. Jess Gargan, 3. Jessie Stapleton, 4. Pearl Slattery, 5. Shauna Fox, 6. Alex Kavanagh, 7. Heather O'Reilly, 8. Rachel Graham, 9. Abbie Larkin, 10. Noelle Murray, 11. Megan Smyth-Lynch, 12. Keeva Keenan, 13. Leah Doyle, 15. Jemma Quinn, 16. Lia O'Leary, 17. Taylor White, 18. Aoife Kelly, 19. Kate O'Dowd, 21. Emma Starr, 22. Nia Hannon, 25. Leah Riley, 26. Leah Donnelly, 30. Katie Keane, 31. Ciara Giles, 38. Courtney Maguire

Athlone Town: 1. Niamh Coombes, 2. Fiona Owens, 3. Kayleigh Shine, 4. Leah Brady, 5. Jessica Hennessy, 6. Muireann Devaney, 7. Gillian Keenan, 8. Dana Scheriff, 9. Emily Corbet, 10. Kellie Brennan, 11. Laurie Ryan, 12. Maddison Gibson, 13. Kelsey Munroe, 14. Roisin Molloy, 15. Lucy Jane Grant, 16. Bonnie McKiernan, 17. Scarlett Herron, 18. Kate Slevin, 19. Emma McGrath, 20. Aoife Murphy O’Connor, 21. Ciara O’Neill, 22. Melissa O'Kane, 23. Antea Guvo, 24. Millie Daly, 30. Ciara Glackin

2022 EVOKE.ie FAI Women's Cup Final
Shelbourne v Athlone Town
KO 15:00
Tallaght Stadium
LIVE on RTÉ2

Referee: Seán Grant
Assistant Referee: Ciaran Delaney
Assistant Referee: Fintan Butler
Fourth Official: Ray Matthews
Reserve Official: Eoin Harte

FAI080-128 MNT Two Match Pack Ireland v Switzerland Website 360x275.png
FAI080-128 MNT Two Match Pack Ireland v Switzerland Website 360x275.png

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