‘The spirits are high and we’re ready’ says Athlone Town boss
By Daire Walsh
Athlone Town manager Tommy Hewitt has expressed his pride at being able to lead his hometown club into battle for the FAI Women’s Cup final against Shelbourne at Tallaght Stadium this Sunday (kick-off 3pm).
Following a superb Women’s National League campaign that saw them achieving second spot in the final standings – just two points adrift of champions Shels – Athlone are looking to round off 2022 with a piece of silverware to show for their efforts.
It will arguably be the biggest game in the lives of each and every one of his players, but Hewitt believes they are more than capable of rising to the occasion.
“It’s a proud moment for me and for my family. Being an Athlone man for me just tops it off, and I’m really looking forward to it. The spirits are high and we’re ready. It’s a game that we’re going to try and win,” Hewitt remarked at the media day in the FAI’s headquarters in Dublin on Monday.
“Hopefully it’s going to be a huge occasion for Athlone fans and obviously for the Shelbourne fans as well. Hopefully we can get loads of colour, loads of noise and give the girls the experience of this atmosphere.
“As we’ve seen with the women’s national team, when Tallaght was packed out, the noise and the colour was fantastic.”
Coming into their semi-final clash on September 24, Athlone were still searching for their first win as a group over Wexford Youths. Not only did Hewitt’s troops manage to get over the line in the last-four encounter, they did so with considerable aplomb.
Madison Gibson was the hat-trick hero as Athlone dethroned the 2021 winners with a convincing 3-0 victory at Lissywollen. From Hewitt’s perspective, this was a day to remember for all involved in the club.
“Maddie was absolutely superb in that game. To beat a team of Wexford’s calibre 3-0, for us it was the stuff of dreams because we’d never beaten them before. The outpouring of emotion afterwards was just unbelievable. Now the reality sets in that we’re in the final. That’s because Maddie obviously did the job for us on the day.”
The level of Athlone’s performances throughout 2022 are all the more remarkable when you consider this is only their third season as a senior outfit.
Having recorded back-to-back seventh place finishes in 2020 and 2021, The Town subsequently took a giant leap forward in the current campaign and, while this has forced other clubs around the WNL to stand up and take notice, Hewitt could see there was something special building over the past three years.
“The first season was tough because of Covid and that. I’m not really surprised, because I knew the talent was there and I knew that once we started doing things right players would be attracted to come in.
“At the moment it has proven that we are doing things right and players do want to come in.”
Although Athlone also claimed the scalp of Shels in recent months – a 2-0 win on September 17 – Noel King’s Dubliners still went on to retain their WNL crown. Yet their quest for a double success in 2021 fell short at the hands of Wexford in last year’s cup decider and Hewitt stressed that this weekend’s showdown in Tallaght will take on a life of its own.
“Shelbourne are a top side and they’re champions. They’re fully deserving and we congratulate them, but it’s a final. On the day it’s about who handles it better and we’re just so looking forward to it,” Hewitt added.