Shels ride the storm to hammer Athlone in cup final

Shelbourne tamed Storm Ashley to obliterate Athlone Town's double dreams and sweep to a spectacular Sports Direct Women’s FAI Cup success.

Athlone were worthy SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division champions this year, but they were a shadow of their usual selves at a windy Tallaght Stadium, as Eoin Wearen’s Shels emphatically gained revenge for last year’s cup final loss.

A well-prepared Shels adjusted to the conditions far better than their rivals, who looked lost without injured captain Laurie Ryan.

Kate Mooney (2), Noelle Murray (2) Jess Gargan and Leah Doyle all found the net in a remarkable opening period. Cameroon striker Brenda Tabe got one back for Athlone, but it was a mere consolation.

Shelbourne comfortably managed a pedestrian second half to reclaim the cup and give Wearen a piece of silver in his first year at the helm.

Nobody anticipated an affair as one-sided as this, with the teams colliding in the showpiece for the third year in succession. Athlone floundered in the gale; Shels harnessed its power.

Athlone had that howling wind at their backs to start but Shels would soon take control of this contest, hitting the front after seven minutes.

Kate Mooney opens the scoring for Shelbourne after a bounce is misjudged in the Athlone defence.