Season opener kicks off at Athlone Town Stadium at 14:00
Preview: Double-winners Athlone Town face long-time rivals Shelbourne in Women’s President’s Cup clash
Athlone Town seeking third Women’s President’s Cup title in four years
The League of Ireland women’s domestic season is set to kick-off this Sunday, 8 March, when the double-winners Athlone Town face familiar foes Shelbourne in the Women’s President’s Cup at the Athlone Town Stadium. The game will be shown live on LOITV, with kick-off set for 14:00.
Athlone Town
John Sullivan’s side will be looking to set the tone early doors for 2026, following last year’s League title & Cup win - alongside a positive pre-season.
The Town will be without last season’s top scorer, Kelly Brady, who moved across the water to Crystal Palace earlier this year following a 19-goal league campaign, which secured the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division Player of the Year award for Brady.
Athlone have retained the bulk of the squad that delivered the 2025 League & Cup double, while bolstering it with new additions.
Former Shels stalwart Noelle Murray, Dana Sheriff and Courtney Maguire arrive, alongside two signings from Shamrock Rovers in Melissa O’Kane and Aimee Neal.
Maddie Gibson will be making her fourth Women’s President’s Cup appearance. Athlone won the first two editions of the Women’s President’s Cup, while Shelbourne claimed the trophy last year at Tolka Park. Athlone have appeared in all editions of the Women’s President’s Cup since 2023.
Shelbourne
The Reds arrive on Sunday looking to retain the Women’s President’s Cup, having claimed the trophy for the first time last year. Shelbourne have significantly changed their squad over the off-season – Seán Russell joined Shelbourne in late 2025 as Head Coach, following an impressive spell in charge of Treaty United.
Russell inherits a squad that has finished as league runners-up in each of the past three SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division seasons, and the pressure to close that gap will be a significant theme throughout 2026.
23-year-old striker Brie Severns is the latest addition to Russell’s panel, while Olivia Damico is also among the new arrivals, alongside the re-signings of Keeva Keenan and Leah Doyle.
The sides have met in two of the last three Women’s President’s Cups to date, bar 2024, when Athlone Town faced Peamount United, and know each other very well from previous encounters.
Tickets for the game at Athlone Town Stadium are available here.
Athlone Town Squad
Maria Matthaiou, Kellie Brennan, Kayleigh Shine, Shauna Brennan, Natalie McNally, Hannah Waesch, Chloe Singleton, Dana Scheriff, Noelle Murray, Kerryanne Brown, Courtney Maguire, Roisin Molloy, Isabel Ryan, Emma Mooney, Madie Gibson, Aimee Neal, Alexis Strickland, Niamh Dundon, Hazel Donegan, Melissa O'Kane, Danielle O'Neill, Muireann Daly, Michaela Hand, Lucy Fitzgerald, Mary-Kate Maher, Hope Glynn, Siva Malasoo, Olivia Killackey
Head Coach: John Sullivan
Shelbourne Squad
Mya Sanchez, Keeva Keenan, Leah Doyle, Pearl Slattery, Nia Hannon, Alex Kavanagh, Becky Watkins, Rachel Graham, Kate Mooney, Emily Kraft, Maeve Wollmer, Jess Gargan, Sarah McCaffrey, Aoibheann Clancy, Aoife Kelly, Madeleine McKinley, Jenna Willoughby, Lucy O’Rourke, Jade Flannery, Halle Harcourt, Caoimhe O’Brien, Brie Severns, Lara Whelan, Maggie Pierce, Olivia Damico.
Head Coach: Seán Russell
