History was made at Tallaght Stadium on Sunday as Athlone Town came through a penalty shootout for the third time this season to win a maiden Women’s FAI Cup title.

Having only joined the Women’s Premier Division in 2020 – two years after entering domestic competition at U17 level – the Westmeath club have enjoyed a rapid rise to prominence in women’s football.

After coming up short to Shelbourne in the 2022 showpiece, the Laurie Ryan-led outfit held their nerves to ultimately see off their Dublin counterparts on this occasion.

Playing under Noel King for the last time, Shels looked set to secure back-to-back crowns when a second goal from substitute Jemma Quinn edged them in front during extra-time. However, Athlone had other ideas and after Gillian Keenan struck an outstanding equaliser, Athlone added to previous shootout victories over Galway United and Peamount United in this year’s competition to claim the silverware in dramatic fashion.

Despite having just three players in their first 11 that started last year’s final – Shels had six in total – Athlone have been a rejuvenated force since former League of Ireland stalwart Ciaran Kilduff assumed the managerial reins in June and they ultimately broke the deadlock in this compelling affair.

Having breathed a sigh of relief in the wake of Kellie Brennan’s superb block on a goal-bound Noelle Murray strike, Athlone were given a reason to rejoice on 33 minutes. After Chloe Singleton’s cross on the right-wing was sliced onto the post by Shels defender Margaret Pierce, Dana Scheriff reacted quickest to fire home the rebound from close-range.

The Women’s Premier Division Golden Boot winner for 2023, the US native’s latest goal left Athlone 1-0 in front at the break and within 45 minutes of reaching the promised land.

While the loss of key attacker Megan Smyth-Lynch to injury just before the interval was a further blow for Shels, the north Dubliners eventually got themselves back on level terms by the 74th minute of the proceedings.

Moments after Leah Doyle had headed agonisingly wide from a couple of yards out, Quinn pounced on a loose ball after Athlone custodian Katie Keane had palmed a Pierce cross from the right-wing and she clinically dispatched a shot to the back of the net.

This suddenly left the tie delicately poised again, though Athlone were perilously close to regaining the initiative in the 84th minute as Gibson’s spectacular long-distance drive crashed against the crossbar.

There were opportunities at either end in a frantic end to normal time, but 30 additional minutes were ultimately required to separate these two teams.

The first period of extra-time looked set to pass without major incident until Quinn once again came up trumps for Shels in the 104th minute with an outstanding right-footed strike into the bottom corner.

The momentum appeared to be with the Metropolitan outfit at this stage, but after a ball into the area by fellow substitute Muireann Devaney fell into her path, Keenan hammered home in emphatic style after 116 minutes of compelling action.

This meant that Athlone were once again forced into a battle of wits from 12 yards and it initially got off to a difficult start for The Town as Gibson hammered their opening effort against the frame of the post.

Yet a subsequent miss by goalkeeper Amanda McQuillan, following successful finishes by Shels skipper Pearl Slattery and Athlone’s Scheriff, suddenly left the tie up in the air again.

Singleton, Kayleigh Shine and Jesi Rossman coolly slotted home their remaining penalties and with Alex Kavanagh unable to supplement Shels strikes from Healy and Rebecca Devereux, the Athlone players, staff and supporters alike were sent into raptures.

SHELBOURNE: McQuillan; Keenan, Slattery, Pierce, Doyle (Devereux 99); Kavanagh, Graham (Clare 76); Gray (Quinn 64), Healy, Smyth-Lynch (Letmon 45+2); Murray.

ATHLONE TOWN: Keane; K Brennan, Shine, Rossman, S Brennan (Slevin 71); Karabin (Devaney 58), L Ryan (I Ryan 106); Molloy (Keenan 98), Singleton, Gibson; Scheriff.

Referee: M Lynch.