Kelly hopeful of FAI Cup success in Tallaght

Aoife Kelly will be hopeful of lifting her second trophy of the season as Shelbourne prepare to take on Athlone on Sunday in the Women’s FAI Cup Final in Tallaght Stadium. Kelly and Shels lifted the All-Island Cup in July when they beat Galway. The Carlow youngster knows the significance of Women’s FAI Cup final day and says she’s looking forward to the occasion.

“I'm very excited for the match. It's a big day. It's obviously changed since last year. It used to be at the end of the season but now they've put it like mid-season so I guess it'll be a bit different but it should be a good day,” Kelly explained.

“I guess when you start seasons, you're looking to make these types of days and occasions, so it's really nice to make it to the cup finals. it will be a special one if we get that chance, but we just need to put in a performance that we're proud of and hopefully it'll go our way.”

 However, a tough task awaits the side in red as they’re up against a dominant Athlone side who have lost just one game all season. The two sides faced off in the Presidents Cup final at the start of the season and Athlone were 1-0 victors. Shelbourne have also lost their last two games, losing 1-0 to Sligo Rovers before coming out the wrong end of a 4-2 defeat to Shamrock Rovers, so they will be up against it. But, Kelly knows that they themselves are a top side and have what it takes to get over the line.

“Athlone have been really, really good over the past few seasons. They're obviously top of the league and they've been in the cup finals for the past good few years. So, yeah, they're a really top side. But I think we're a really top side as well. So hopefully it can be a good showcase and a good match,” she went on to say.

“We lost our game away to Sligo and we lost last weekend. I think there's great learning that can be taken from those games so hopefully we can take the learnings from those games and bring it into this weekend and use it to improve us.” 

There wasn’t much between the two sides in the President’s Cup earlier in the season, with Athlone just creeping across the line in a 1-0 win, whilst the league match between them ended in a 1-1 draw, so Kelly knows it will be a tight match.

“Our games against Athlone this year have been quite tight, so hopefully it's a good game for the neutral as well. I guess Athlone are a really good team and we're going to try to bring our best out as well. Cup finals are once off matches.” 

“I guess maybe your league form or anything like that doesn't necessarily play a part in it and it's a different occasion, it's a different type of day. So in these finals, like anything can happen, I guess if you show up on the day.” 

Kelly was unused substitute when Shels beat Athlone 2-0 in the 2022 FAI Cup during her first year of senior football. She then had spells at Shamrock Rovers and Wexford FC before returning to the Tolka Park outfit at the start of this season. She has enjoyed the experience so far of return to the club.

“I've really enjoyed my year and I think we've had a good season collectively and I've also got to stay with some new players and learn off new management. So it's been great so far for me. The girls have been so lovely, the staff have been so helpful too.”