Cork City Women fail to stop Athlone from winning the title, losing 4-0 at home in Turner's Cross

Cork City 0 

Athlone Town 4 

Cork City Women failed to stop Athlone Town’s title coronation with the Rebel Army going down 4-0 to the champions at Turner’s Cross on Wednesday night.

The visitors had to win in order to secure the crown and a second half Kelly Brady hat-trick secured the win on Leeside.

Craig Robinson’s side had nothing to offer as Athlone went back to back, with the Women’s FAI Cup final to come later this month against Bohemians.

The Rebel Army have never been in that situation, with their latest defeat reinforcing this message as the club is looking at a second basement finish in three seasons.

There are positives, like the U17s recently reaching their National Cup final and the U19s just finishing second in their league.

The idea is that all of this will come together to form a senior team that is competitive while representing Ireland’s biggest county geographically.

The Rebel Army have not experienced that buzz since 2020, when they last reached the cup final and finished in the top half of the Women’s Premier Division.

Wednesday was a reminder of the current state of play as Athlone Town were relentless, with early attempts falling to Hannah Waesch inside the first five minutes.

Israela Groves also got underneath a free-kick at the back post and she headed the ball centimetres wide.

Athlone eventually scored, through Kayleigh Shine from right in front of the posts with her right boot.

City had a handful of opportunities in a bid to get an equaliser with the best one falling to Chrstina Dring and she hit the ball over the bar.

The visitors closed out the half with a number of close range attempts and each one was met with a low save from Una Foyle.

The second goal eventually came in the 58th minute with a low Roisin Molloy pass from the right and Brady guided this in at the far post.

It was a slick move, and things got better with Athlone’s next advance as Brady turned in a Madison Gibson cross to make it 3-0.

The rest of the game was played out with ease as the visitors dominated possession in search of a fourth.

It with a penalty in the 88th minute and Brady completed her hat-trick by hitting the bottom corner, despite Foyle diving to the right side as the clock started to turn red.

Cork City: Una Foyle; Zoe Finnerty, Ciara O’Driscoll, Ciara McNamara, Shaunagh McCarthy, Cliodhna Malone, Lauren Homan, Heidi Mackin, Eva Mangan, Amy McCarthy, Christina Dring.

Subs: Sadbh McGoldrick for McNamara (HT); Sophia Redmond for Malone (55), Jodie Griffin for Amy McCarthy (74), Eva Loftus for Mangan (78).

Athlone Town: Maria Matthaiou; Kellie Brennan, Kayleigh Shine, Natalie McNally, Shauna Brennan, Hannah Waesch, Israela Groves, Roisin Molloy, Maidson Gibson, Alexis Strickland, Kelly Brady.

Subs: Kate Slevin for Groves (HT); Emma Mooney for Strickland (HT), Isabel Ryan for Molloy (72), Aoife O’Connor for Gibson (73), Sarah Rice for Brennan (73).

Referee: Alan Franklin