Preview: Same clubs new faces in Shels-Athlone rematch

A year is a long time in football.

This time 12 months ago Shelbourne were champions having snatched the SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division in a thrilling climax. They would go on to complete the double by beating Athlone Town in the Sports Direct FAI Cup final.

Tommy Hewitt's midlanders were brilliant last season, coming agonisingly close to doing the double themselves as they finished second in the league and then lost the cup decider 2-0 at Tallaght Stadium.

At the time a bullish Hewitt insisted Athlone would bounce back emphatically. "We will be ready for the next couple of years to take over this league," he declared.

However Shamrock Rovers' return to the division changed the landscape completely.

Athlone lost some key figures - as did Shels. Sixteen players who were involved in last year's final are no longer with their respective clubs.

Hewitt departed in June with Athlone's season threatening to fizzle out, but his replacement Ciaran Kilduff has been a revitalising force. They're back in the final and desperate to get their hands on the trophy.

"I think we're all hoping we can get over the line this year, the experience last year will stand to us," said Athlone skipper Laurie Ryan, a highly influential presence on and off the field.

"We probably got a bit overawed last year by the occasion. Last year was a massive day in the calendar. For a lot of the younger girls, it was the first time they would have played in a stadium like this and have so many things go on at the one time.

"So we’re just hoping that will stand to us this year. The more bigger games,the better you get at managing them so hopefully that will be the case this year."

Noel King has flushed some very young talent through his side after being drained