Gibson treble ensures Athlone make history
MADDIE Gibson’s hattrick ensured history was made yesterday in Athlone as the home side’s 3-0 victory over Wexford Youths means they can now look forward to their first Evoke.ie FAI Cup Final. Gibson set the game alight with a stunning goal inside the opening three minutes.
A short corner from Kayleigh Shine to Gibson concluded with the striker showing impressive control on the edge of the box before shimmying past Sinnott and launching an unstoppable effort off her left foot into the far corner of the net.
Wexford continued to push forward, and they showed glimpses of how dangerous they could be on the counter. The warning signs were there for Athlone as Ciara Rossiter began to put the pressure on Athlone and cause problems.
But a lapse of concentration from Wexford goalkeeper Maeve Williams on the half-hour mark gifted Gibson her second of the game as Athlone took a firm grip of the second semi-final of the day.
Excellent pressure from Gibson forced Nicola Sinnott into a long pass back to her goalkeeper but, as Williams attempted to chest the ball down to her feet, Gibson nicked the ball off her before rounding Sinnott and finishing calmly.
Gibson (above left, with Laurie Ryan) sealed her treble with a goal of the highest quality on the hour mark to cap off a superb display and secure the match ball.
The pressure from Scarlett Herron was too much for Rossiter as she showed great spirit in their midfield battle to take possession and set Gibson on her way. She then powered towards goal before looping a shot high into the top corner to seal her hat-trick.
Kylie Murphy saw a header crash back off the crossbar as time ticked away in the second half, but that was the closest her side would come as Athlone Town saw out the remainder of the game and reach the final on November 6.
A single goal was enough to separate the sides in the day’s earlier semi-final, with a Noelle Murray penalty for Shelbourne seeing off a gallant Bohemians performance at Tolka Park. In a first half where chances were few and far between, the penalty was awarded after Niamh Prior stood on Abbie Larkin’s foot and sent the Shelbourne attacker bundling to the ground.
Bohs did have their chances in the second half through Lisa Murphy and Ann Marie Byrne from long range, with both efforts causing moments of worry for Budden in the Shelbourne goal, but nothing to majorly trouble her.
Substitute Aoife Robinson had a gilt-edged chance to level the game in the dying moments of the second half as she found space for herself in a busy box from a corner kick straight into the melting pot.
Robinson’s headed effort was on target and looked to be destined for the back of the net, only for Keenan to clear the ball off the line at the last second.