Double contenders Athlone ready for 'ultimate battle' with familiar FAI Cup foes Shelbourne

Athlone Town's Shauna Brennan is relishing the prospect of a third consecutive Women's FAI Cup final showdown against Shelbourne on 20 October.

Holders Athlone edged Sligo Rovers 1-0 in their semi-final on Sunday to set up a rematch against the team they lost to in the final in 2022 before gaining revenge on penalties last year.

"They have won and we have won so this will be the ultimate battle, I guess," Brennan told RTÉ Sport after scoring the only goal of the game at the Showgrounds.

"I was delighted to get the goal and get us over the line. We don't really care who gets the goals. We have been unlucky with injuries someone different steps up.

"Sligo put it up to us and fought all the way to the end but thankfully we hung in there."

Athlone are also in contention for a first SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division title. Winning their game in hand at Wexford midweek would see the table-toppers take a five-point lead over Galway and Shels into the final three games of the season.

Is the double do-able?

"You have to believe it," said Brennan.

"We have to go down to Wexford on Wednesday so we know that that's going to be a tough game.

"Things can happen. You can play well and lose, you can play badly and win. It just comes down to what happens on the day.

"We're going to put up our best fight and see how we go."

Manager Ciarán Kilduff warned there was still a lot of work to do to try and even ensure one trophy.

"You have to win one before you win two and we're nowhere near winning either at the minute; we have a bit to do," he said.

"We usually play on Saturdays and you come in on Sunday evening and you're got a match on Wednesday. It's a quick turnaround and we're in uncharted waters a little bit. We'll debrief, get rid of it as