Athlone Town Advances to Fifth Consecutive FAI Cup Final

Athlone Town just do not know when to let go of the FAI Cup.

The holders survived a ferocious challenge from Galway United and 120 draining minutes before finally edging through on penalties, booking a remarkable fifth consecutive final and another collision course with title rivals Shelbourne.

It took a save from goalkeeper Maria Matthaiou in the shoot-out to finally break Galway resistance, after a night that swung, rattled and refused to settle.

Strickland pounces, Galway hit back

Athlone, fresh from navigating a bruising midweek tie against Peamount United, flew out of the blocks despite the miles in their legs.

They had their spark back too. Madie Gibson, returning from injury, set the tone early with her aggression in midfield. She snapped into a challenge, turned the ball over and suddenly Athlone were away on a three-v-one break. Gibson released the rapid Izzy Ryan down the right, Strickland screaming for it inside. Ryan’s cross, though, had just too much on it and Amanda McQuillan gratefully smothered.

The miss barely had time to sting before Athlone struck.

A loose ball from Niamh Farrelly’s tackle in midfield skidded back towards the Galway goal. Strickland read it faster than anyone, darting between McQuillan and the recovering Jade Rehberger. The two Galway players collided, the ball spilled, and Strickland stayed ice-cool to roll Athlone in front.

Galway did not flinch. This is a side with only one league defeat all season, and they played like it.

Abbie Callanan almost produced an instant answer, meeting a dropping ball outside the box with a gorgeous, controlled volley. Matthaiou could only watch as it kissed the outside of the post and flew wide. A fraction the other way and it was one apiece.

From there, the tie turned into a grind. Tackles flew in, space vanished, and both midfields dug trenches. Galway saw more of the ball, but Matthaiou remained largely untroubled. At the other end, Strickland’s relentless running kept the visiting defence on edge, constantly threatening to burst clear.

Galway rise, Griffin delivers a stunner

Half-time brought no respite. Galway came out as if insulted by the deficit.

They pushed higher, snapped into second balls and started to fire from distance. Athlone, legs heavy after a three-game week, were suddenly the ones being asked questions.

Yet the hosts still carried the sharper edge in front of goal. A clever move down the left released Gibson, who whipped in a delicious cross that begged to be finished. Strickland met it perfectly, her header thundering off the crossbar and away. Inches from a cushion, denied by woodwork.

The warning went unheeded. Galway’s equaliser, when it came, was pure quality.

Substitute Cara Griffin collected the ball on the right side of the area, shaped to shoot, sold her marker, then curled a magnificent effort into the far top corner with just over 15 minutes left. Matthaiou could do nothing but watch it fly past. Galway’s bench exploded. Athlone’s grip on the Cup suddenly looked fragile.

The game opened up. Tired legs, tired minds, no one willing to blink.

Athlone, desperate to avoid extra-time, threw everything at McQuillan late on. Ryan forced a smart stop, and then Hannah Waesch was denied by another excellent save as the Galway keeper stood tall in the dying moments. The pressure was real, but Galway refused to crack.

Extra-time agony and shoot-out drama

Extra-time mirrored the 90: full tilt, no quarter, no breakthrough.

Both sides kept running on fumes, both kept tackling like it was the first minute. Chances were scarce, nerves were not. The Cup, once again, would be decided from 12 yards.

Galway stepped up first in the shoot-out. Four penalties each, four converted each. Every taker held their nerve, every goalkeeper guessed and stretched in vain.

Then came the first crack. Isabella Beletic, unfortunate more than anything, sent her kick rising over the bar.

Roisin Molloy seized the moment, drilling her effort home to make it 3-2 and heap the weight of the tie on Galway’s final takers. Both sides scored their next penalties, keeping Athlone in front.

Farrelly, who had been at the heart of so many Galway battles on the night, walked up needing to score. She struck it cleanly, but Matthaiou guessed right, plunged to save, and Athlone’s bench flooded the pitch.

Five finals in a row. A penalty hero. And now, another date with Shelbourne in a rivalry that shows no sign of cooling.