Clancy and Shine lead Shels to President's Cup victory

Shelbourne 2-1 Athlone Town

Shelbourne got their hands on the first silverware of the season and took bragging rights in an enthralling end-to-end Women's President’s Cup encounter under the watchful eye of new WNT team boss, Carla Ward.

Leading 2-0 at the break, with goals from player of the match Aoibheann Clancy and a Kayleigh Shine own goal, Eoin Wearen’s side were forced to endure a nervy ending when Roisin Molly slotted home a well taken penalty but showed their experience to get over the line.

It was fitting that last season's top two, who brought an end to a dramatic domestic season with that quite incredible FAI Cup Final back in October, where the two sides with their hands on the draw strings to raise the curtain of the 2025 season and provided a tantalising teaser of what is to come.

The reigning President Cup holders, and last seasons Champions, now under the tutelage of new manager and Athlone native Colin Fortune, who previously played for and managed the men's side, started brightly and almost bloodied the nose of the home side within the first minute when Aoife O’Connor dragged her volley inches wide of Amanda McQuillan’s bottom corner.

The hosts responded immediately when Roma McLoughlin junked her way inside the box and from a narrow angle forced Megan Plaschko into a sharp save at her near post.

Although there was no repeat of the barely believable encounter the last time the teams met, when Shels raced to a 6-0 half time lead, the Reds did get in front with a quarter of an hour played.

Following an onslaught of corners, the majestic McLaughlin eventually got two bites of the cherry to open the scoring but was unluckily denied with both headers in quick succession, the first of which blocked and bounced up