Former Athlone Town women's netminder announces retirement
Kevin O'Neill
Megan Plaschko, who memorably kept goals for Athlone Town women's team in their most successful ever season, has announced her retirement from the game.
A native of Minnesota, United States, Plaschko joined Athlone Town early last year and made her debut soon after in the President's Cup against Shelbourne. Over the season, Megan made 25 appearances as Athlone won the league and cup double, and she was named in the SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division Team of the Year. She was also a key component of the Athlone team who performed so well in European football last season.
Confirming her retirement on Instagram, Plaschko said the game has been 'the centre of my life for 20 years'. SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division Team of the Year SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division Team of t
“The only feeling I have looking back on my career is gratitude for the lifelong friends I made, the coaches who invested so much time into me, the family who never doubted me, and for all of the places I would never have been able to see. God placed soccer into my life knowing it would shape everything for me and it is my greatest blessing. To anyone who was part of the journey, thank you for everything. If whatever life brings next gives me half what soccer did, I will be the luckiest person alive. I am filled with excitement for what’s next and thankful for the game that gave me everything,” she said.
Last season's back-up goalkeeper Maria Matthaiou will be expected to compete with recent signing Courtney Maguire for the team's goalkeeping shirt.
Meanwhile, the football club has announced that its season ticket revenue has increased by 76 per cent compared to the 2025 season. In December, the club launched a new pricing model for a Combined Men's and Women's Season Tickets. The senior men's team opened their 2026 League of Ireland 1st Division season with a 2-1 victory against Finn Harps last Friday, and they will hope to follow-up that result when travelling to Kerry FC this Friday (kick-off 7.45pm).