Remarkable Athlone Town seal Women's Premier Division title
by Dylan O'Connell and Tadhg Carey
Athlone Town sealed the SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division title for the second successive year with a comfortable away win in Cork tonight.
John Sullivan's side overcome Cork City 4-0 to seal remarkable back-to-back league titles.
A Kelly Brady hat-trick helped the visitors to the win that secured the league crown, following last weekend's pivotal victory away to nearest challengers Shelbourne.
Watch the dressing room celebrations here
Kayleigh Shine opened the scoring tonight for Athlone, who lead by a single goal at the break, before the in-form Brady found the net three times in a one-sided second half.
Athlone remarkably have yet to taste defeat this league campaign, and now will be hoping to see out a remarkable 'Invincible' league season with a trip to Peamount United and a home game to Sligo Rovers yet to come.
Athlone also have the opportunity to record their first ever double - with a Sports Direct FAI Women's Cup final contest against Bohemians ahead on Sunday, October 19 in Tallaght Stadium.
Tonight marked another chapter in a story that began with a victory over Peamount United in the 2023 President’s Cup final, and reached a new level this year with club’s run in the Champions League qualifiers.
The win in Turner’s Cross just felt like another day at the office, despite the home side’s desire to upset the party and record just their third victory this season.
The Rebel Army were up or the challenge and stood their ground early on. Hannah Waesch was eventually forced to go long and her effort from the edge of the area went safely into the hands of Una Foyle.
Athlone settled any nerves though when Shine scored from right in front of the posts with her right boot on 19 minutes.
City had a handful of opportunities in a bid to get an equaliser with the best one falling to Chrstina Dring and she hit the ball over the bar.
The visitors closed out the half with a number of close range attempts and each one was met with a low save from Foyle.
The second goal eventually came in the 58th minute with a low Roisin Molloy pass from the right and Brady guided this in at the far post.
It was a slick move, and things got better with Athlone’s next advance as Brady turned in a Madison Gibson cross to make it 3-0.
The rest of the game was played out with ease as the visitors dominated possession in search of a fourth.
It was a penalty in the 88th minute that allowed Brady to complete her hat-trick, and she hit the bottom corner, despite Foyle diving to the right side as the clock started to turn red.
Cork City: Una Foyle; Zoe Finnerty, Ciara O’Driscoll, Ciara McNamara (Sadbh McGoldrick HT), Shaunagh McCarthy, Cliodhna Malone (Sophia Redmond 55), Lauren Homan, Heidi Mackin, Eva Mangan (Eva Loftus 78), Amy McCarthy (Jodie Griffin 74), Christina Dring.
Athlone Town: Maria Matthaiou; Kellie Brennan, Kayleigh Shine, Natalie McNally, Shauna Brennan (Sarah Rice 73), Hannah Waesch, Israela Groves (Kate Slevin HT), Roisin Molloy (Isabel Ryan 72), Madison Gibson (Aoife O’Connor 73), Alexis Strickland (Emma Mooney HT), Kelly Brady.
Referee: Alan Franklin