Athlone Town crowned SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division Champions
It's official: Athlone Town are the 2024 SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division champions!
Goals from Madison Gibson and Kellie Brennan helped them beat Bohemians 2-0 in Athlone Town Stadium to become just the fifth different team to win the League title since 2012.
Even though Shelbourne had moved level on points with The Midlanders following their 3-0 victory over Peamount United earlier in the day, Athlone held a better head-to-head record and thus secure the League with one game still to play (away to Galway United on Saturday, October 12th) with this 15th win of the season.
With the TG4 cameras broadcasting the game live, Athlone went ahead on 26 minutes when Gibson collected an attempted clearance by Bohemians goalkeeper Rachael Kelly, drove forward and then smashed a left-footed shot into the back of the net for her seventh goal of the season.
Brennan made it 2-0 on 33 minutes when she spun her marker inside the penalty area and converted from close range. Athlone could have further extended their lead but Gibson fired off target and Brenda Tabe saw a headed chance rattle the crossbar.
Bohemians attempted to spoil the hosts' party plans but goalkeeper Katie Keane was on full alert to earn her 10th clean sheet of the season and help her team collect the all-important three points.
This is Athlone's first League triumph and follows on from lifting the Sports Direct Women's FAI Cup last year as well as the President's Cup for the last two years.
Ciaran Kilduff's squad could still end 2024 as double winners as they are through to the Sports Direct Women's FAI Cup Final again, where they will meet Shelbourne for a third straight year on Sunday, October 20th in Tallaght Stadium.
For now though, they are celebrating their first ever League success. And it's fully deserved.
Athlone Town: Katie Keane; Ciara O'Neill (Isabel Ryan 83), Kayleigh Shine, Jesi Rossman, Shauna Brennan; Kate Slevin, Laurie Ryan; Roisin Molloy, Kellie Brennan, Madison Gibson (Emily Burke 83); Brenda Tabe.
Bohemians: Rachael Kelly; Sarah Power, Lisa Murphy, Tiegan Ruddy, Abbie O'Hara (Leah Riley 88); Katie Lovely (Leiagh Glennon 58), Fíona Donnelly, Aoibhe Brennan; Alannah McEvoy, Katie Malone, Savannah Kane (Shauna Carroll 58, Orlagh Fitzpatrick 84).
Referee: Aaron O'Dowd.
