Megan Plaschko believes that the support of the local community in Athlone could be the difference in the 2025 Sports Direct Women's FAI Cup Final.

The Midlanders are through to their fourth consecutive Final and are fired up to take on Bohemians on Sunday, October 19th in Tallaght Stadium with Cup glory on the line.

SECURE YOUR SEAT FOR THE 2025 SPORTS DIRECT WOMEN'S FAI CUP FINAL

This will be a new experience for goalkeeper Plaschko, who arrived in January, but she is looking forward to the occasion as much as the game due to what her team-mates have been telling her about it.

"The girls on the team who have been part of the Cup Final before talk about how exciting it is to be part of, how great the atmosphere is, about the build-up to it, how big a deal it is and when you get back to Athlone how much the fans are into it as they show up for yo​u," said Plaschko.

A native of Minnesota, United States, Plaschko quickly adapted to living in Athlone in large part because of the community feel that its people has for its League of Ireland club. That is something which Plaschko feels can be an x-factor when they go into this year's Cup Final.

"If you walk through town with an Athlone Town crest on you'll always have someone yell something positive at you or wish you good luck. It's really cool and something that I've never really experienced before. The town continues to show up for us, so we want to keep performing for them," said the 24-year-old.

"I had never set foot in Ireland before when I arrived for the first time in January. I think it's the perfect place to live; it's obviously not the biggest town but you have everything you need and you see familiar faces throughout the town so it has that smaller community feel to it. Any time you see people embracing the local football team is a win for everyone.

"The momentum of having our fans there cheering us on reminds you that you are playing for something more than yourself when you walk out on that pitch. We know that the whole community is behind us and regardless of the result they are behind us. It makes you think 'we're going to go out there and give it our absolute best because this community has our back'. That is a really cool feeling and it makes you push that extra effort to do it for the people in Athlone."

2025 Sports Direct Women's FAI Cup Final
Athlone Town v Bohemians
Sunday, October 19th
Tallaght Stadium
KO 15:00
LIVE on TG4
Tickets available here