Athlone sink Shels to move within brink of title
Shelbourne 1 Athlone Town 2
By Darryl Geraghty
Athlone Town all but sealed back-to-back Women’s Premier Division titles when overcoming arch-rivals Shelbourne with a dramatic 2-1 win at Tolka Park on Saturday night.
Over 600 fans made plenty of noise as both sets of fans roared on the title contenders throughout a tense 97 minutes in Drumcondra.
A win on Wednesday over Cork City at Turner's Cross will mathematically seal the deal for John Sullivan's relentless side.
Goals from Hannah Waesch and Kelly Brady, either side of the break put one hand on the title for the Town, only for Jemma Quinn to set up a nail biting ending with a powerful header.
This vital clash was set up perfectly as the reigning champions and FAI Cup holders went to war in the latest edition of this fascinating rivalry.
The determined Reds started the game like a house on fire, thinking they had taken a crucial lead in the third minute. Leah Doyle’s viciously whipped free kick from the right wing was nodded home by skipper Pearl Slattery, but the celebrations were cut short when the flag was raised for the narrowest of offsides.
The breathless feel to proceedings continued as both sides pressed each other relentlessly all over the park, refusing to give an inch.
The double chasing visitors went close themselves when Kelly Brady got a yard to turn and ran at the heart of the Shels rearguard. The Town’s star striker cut inside onto her right but dragged her shot just wide of Amanda McQuillan’s near post.
The battle to finish as the league’s top scorer added an extra storyline to the heated rivalry as Mackenzie Anthony and Brady looked to fire their side to glory.
The former then stung the palms of Megan Plaschko from a tight angle, having been set up by Noelle Murray who was like a player possessed.
Midway through the drama filled first half, there was another huge call for the officials to make as Alexis Strickland flew into a challenge on Murray, with the American seemingly going over the top of the ball and, upon reflection, she was lucky to receive just a yellow.
Shelbourne manager Eoin Wearen must have been wondering who he had upset as the hosts’ injury hoodoo struck yet again. Having already lost Kate Mooney, Keeva Keenan and Alex Kavanagh to nasty injuries, the creative Roma McLoughlin then pulled up with a muscle injury having seen her powerful shot blocked.
The visitors regrouped following the brief stoppage and went agonisingly close to edging ahead when captain Madison Gibson delivered a delightful ball from the left that caused mass confusion, resulting in Kelly Brady’s lofted header being cleared off the line by the recovering Doyle.
And on the stroke of half-time, the league leaders showed their ruthlessness in front of goal to take the lead. Shauna Brennan swung in a cross deep from the left that made its way in behind Lucy O’Rourke. Hanna Waesch kept the ball alive and cleverly turned back inside the centre-back and finished from close range to stun the home support.
These two heavyweights continued to slug it out at a tension-filled Tolka Park with the game on a knife edge.
And just after the hour mark, Athlone doubled their lead through a lightning quick counter attack. Substitute Emma Mooney slipped in Brady who then showed incredible strength and athleticism to hold off Leah Doyle and finish calmly through McQuillan’s legs, sparking wild celebrations on the Athlone bench, and drawing level with Anthony on 16 goals in the process.
Despite going further behind, the home side refused to drop their heads with plenty of time remaining. Throwing everything they had at the blue and black wall, Megan Smyth-Lynch put the ball on the chest of Slattery who volleyed over with the goal at her mercy, with 20-minutes still to go.
Belief was building and despite time trickling away, a grandstand finish was set up deliciously when Doyle’s in-swinging corner was powered home by substitute Quinn.
With just seconds remaining the hosts earned that one chance they had been so desperately craving. The tireless Anthnoy battled to retrieve possession, keeping the ball alive, as it sat up invitingly again for Slattery who tried to control her shot and keep it low but failed to find the bottom corner as player of the match Megan Plaschko got down to make what turned out to be a game winning save.
Athlone held on to move within touching distance of retaining their title.
Player of the match: Megan Plaschko (Athlone Town). The influential Hannah Waesch and the now joint top-scorer in the league Kelly Brady were among a number of standout performers who helped to get their side over the line. Town keeper Plaschko was top class as the last line of defence, showing incredible agility to deny a host of Reds efforts from close range or distance. The American stopper showed fantastic concentration right until the final whistle to make sure her side took all three points back to Athlone.
Shelbourne: Amanda McQuillan; Nia Hannon, Pearl Slattery, Lucy O’Rourke; Jess Gargan, Aoibheann Clancy, Rachel Graham, Roma McLoughlin, Leah Doyle; Noelle Murray, Mackenzie Anthony. Subs: Gabriella Del Pico for McLoughlin (28 mins); Megan Smyth-Lynch for Hannon (61); Maeve Wollmer for Graham (61); Jemma Quinn for Murray (68).
Athlone Town: Megan Plaschko; Kellie Brennan, Shauna Brennan, Natalie McNally, Kayleigh Shine; Kate Slevin, Hannah Waesch; Roisin Molloy, Alexis Strickland, Madison Gibson; Kelly Brady. Subs: Emma Mooney for Strickland (59 mins); Isabel Ryan for Gibson (78); Izzy Groves for Slevin (90).
Referee: Mark Houlihan.