Winger Sarah McKevitt insists that the ability to trust each other has built up the confidence that Bohemians needed to reach their first ever Sports Direct Women’s FAI Cup Final.

Tipperary native McKevitt is someone who comes alive in the big games but he has learnt that achieving a positive result only comes when her teammates are performing to the same level.

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

The 27-year-old embraces the responsibility of passing on her knowledge to players in her own position - even if some of the younger players are pushing for her starting spot - but there is a bond in Alban Hysa's squad that started to come together under previous Head Coach Ken Kiernan.

"It took time to build. I'm in my second year at the club and it was all building from last year. Ken (Kiernan) started it and Alban (Hysa) has really pushed it on, which is brilliant but it did take time for it all to click," she explained.

"We had great team bonding at the start of the year where our coach Jonathan Deegan took us to the beach and put us through our paces. We learned how to communicate with each other and how best to use that. We are together Monday, Tuesday and Thursday nights and then games on Saturdays, so we're spending four days a week together and it was important for us all to build relationships with everybody, get to know each other and know what people's strengths are.

"Even if you take the relationship that I've been able to build with Sarah Power who plays at right-back and I play on the right wing, I trust her with my life behind me. It takes time to build that up but we are benefitting from it now.

"When we lost 7-2 to Shelbourne at the start of the year, we sat down on the Monday after and asked 'okay, what needs to happen here?'. From that point on we really pushed on and now we're into our first ever Women's FAI Cup Final."

In August, Bohemians reached their first ever Cup Final since entering a women's senior team into the League of Ireland but they lost to Wexford in a penalty shootout in the All-Island Cup Final. While it hurt at the time, McKevitt insists it is something that has given the Bohemians players belief that they can compete in the showpiece games.

As they prepare to take on Athlone Town in the 2025 Sports Direct Women's Cup Final in Tallaght Stadium on Sunday, October 19th, McKevitt feels that her team are exactly where they want to be at exactly the right time.

"Coming off the back of the All-Island Cup Final and having another Cup Final to redeem ourselves is great. It was nice for everyone to experience a Cup Final, to know what to expect, so that they we have been there and done that it helps us to be more prepared for this Cup Fina​​l," said McKevitt.

"​It would be unbelievable to win the Women's FAI Cup. I still haven't won it​. I know that we're coming up against Athlone who have had an unbelievable season but last time we played them we drew 2-2 so we know that we can match them so it's about pushing on in that last little bit and who wants it more on the day.

"This group of players have grown stronger as the season has gone on, we trust each other and we fight for each other. We will be ready for this Cup Final and hopefully we can go on to win it."

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