Shine's consistence excellence impossible to ignore
Westmeath Independent Community & Sports Awards in association with Westmeath County Council
Outstanding Achievement of the Year: Kayleigh Shine
Defenders usually don’t get the same limelight as attackers in team sports, but the consistent excellence of Kayleigh Shine for the Athlone Town’s women team has been impossible to ignore.
Shine played a key role as Athlone completed the double by winning the Women’s Premier Division title and the Women’s FAI Cup. She has now won two Women’s Premier Division medals and two Women’s FAI Cup medals with Athlone.
The local star was selected on the 2025 SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division Team of the Year. Shine was previously named on the PFA Ireland Women’s Premier Division Team of the Year, with this selection voted for by the players. After her selection on the PFAI Team of the Year, Athlone Town said the Drum native has been “rock solid all season” and that’s a view that nobody could argue with.
Shine was among the goalscorers on the night Athlone clinched their second successive Women’s Premier Division title, opening the scoring in a 4-0 victory over Cork City at Turner’s Cross.
The centre-half lined out in all four of Athlone’s FAI Cup games this year, including the 3-2 final win over Bohemians at Tallaght Stadium. Her previous FAI Cup winners medal came in 2023 when Athlone beat Shelbourne on penalties in the decider.
From Taylorstown, Drum, Shine has been there from the very start of Athlone Town’s journey in women’s football. Kayleigh was part of the Athlone squad when the club joined what was then known as the Women’s National League in 2020. Having previously excelled for local club Bealnamulla, she joined the Athlone Town U17 team in 2018. Since establishing herself with the senior team, she has made over 100 appearances for the club.
Kayleigh was virtually ever present in Athlone Town’s successful league campaign, missing just one game, and she started all six of the club’s European matches. During an exciting adventure in what was the club’s first foray into Europe in women’s football, Athlone defeated the champions of Wales (Cardiff City), Croatia (ZNK Agram) and Serbia (Red Star Belgrade). A defeat to Icelandic champions Breidablik ended Athlone’s hopes of progress in the Champions League, and Athlone subsequently lost out to Glasgow City in Women’s Europa Cup. Yet this adventure was just another chapter in a historic season which culminated in double glory.
The Outstanding Achievement of the Year finalists are Kayleigh Shine, Anna McGann and Roisin Molloy.
The Outstanding Achievement of the Year award is sponsored by DPD