Athlone Town Women
Athlone Town return to the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division as reigning champions looking to make a statement and fast following their dramatic defeat in the FAI Cup final to league runners up Shelbourne.
The Town inched past Eoin Wearen's Reds to clinch their first-ever Women's Premier Division title in 2024, finishing at the top of the table on 47 points (15 wins, 2 draws, 3 losses). The midland matadors secured the crown with a 2-0 victory over Bohemians, goals from Madie Gibson and Kellie Brennan leaving red hearts black and blue.
In the final third of the season, with Tolka tacticians Shelbourne hot on their heels, the announcement of Northern Ireland international Casey Howe’s departure to professional outfit Nottingham Forest, coupled with news that a crushing injury to Chloe Singleton had ended the number 8's season prematurely, were reason enough for a team lacking in Midlands mettle to falter.
Yet the Town did not miss a beat, their cohesion and strength apparent for all to witness as the Lissywollen leaders blitzed across the finishing line with the help of one of the most prolific strikers to don the Town's coat of arms - Brenda Tabe.
Making the move from Leckie FF where Tabe played in the Guinness Super League, the Cameroonian was instrumental in Athlone Town's final push, scoring nine goals across all competitions.
​
Several standout performers from last season have since been recognised for their contributions, with Laurie Ryan, Roisin Molloy, Katie Keane, Madison Gibson, and Jesi Rossman all named in the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division Team of the Year.
Meanwhile, Hazel Donegan received the nod for EA Sports WU19 LOI Academy Player of the Year, a testament to the club’s strong development pathway.
However, Athlone's success in the league was followed by managerial upheaval, with Ciarán Kilduff departing hours after their one-sided FAI Cup defeat to Shelbourne to take charge of Dundalk.
Kilduff’s exit is reported to have sent shockwaves throughout both the squad and fanbase - the timing of the announcement akin to a right hook unleashed on a downed opponent.
Awarded PFA Ireland Women's Premier Division Manager of the Year, the former Town foreman was instrumental in Athlone’s rise - along with Assistant Coach Gemma Murphy (now Head of the Women's Academy at Shelbourne.)
Despite the team's success in 2024, the preceding events cast a shadow that stretched from Sean's bar to the regional sports center as the season ended on a discordant note.
Squad Updates & Key Players:
Athlone have worked hard to retain the nucleus of their championship winning side from last season as they too seek out a number of proven star performers.
Re-signings for 2025 (to date): Roisin Molloy, Shauna Brennan, Isabel Ryan, Madie Gibson, Kellie Brennan, Hazel Donegan, Kayleigh Shine and Ciara O’Neill
New signings include (to date): Kelly Brady (former Ole Miss Rebels in 2024) and Izzy Groves (formerly London City Lionesses in 2024)
Canadian-born Jamaican international Groves has experience playing in the US, France, Portugal, and England with a standout collegiate career at Roberts Wesleyan University to boot.
“I like to play smart [defensively] and feel that my vision is definitely an important part of my game,” Groves said on speaking to her former London club last year.
​
In a transfer which was speculated post the departure of vociferous goalminder Amanda Budden from Shamrock Rovers following a two year spell to Peamount, both senior and underage Irish international Katie Keane signed for The Hoops in 2025 where she will compete against Summer Lawless for the number 1 shirt.
​
Heralded for her sensational performance for the girls in green at the Under-19 European Championships in Lithuania last July (she kept a clean sheet against the Spanish armada) Keane's loss is undoubtedly a blow to Athlone.
​
​American defender Jesi Rossman has also departured to Portuguese side Torreense ahead of the 2025 season. The Florida native's transfer another knock to the Midlands squad.​
​
Coaching staff:
Colin Fortune has stepped into the role left vacant by Kilduff, bringing extensive League of Ireland experience to the position.
A former Athlone Town player, Fortune took on the role of Academy Coach with Athlone and was appointed Senior Men's Team Manager for 2016/17.
​​
In 2019 Fortune looked West where he worked full-time as the Assistant Manager at Galway United and has served as Head Coach at TUS Midlands where he was recently appointed as Soccer Development Coach specialising in Recruitment and Development.
​
Speaking to club media Fortune said: ”I’m honoured to be offered the position of Team Manager for Athlone Town Senior Women’s Team. It’s great to be back in Elite football and with the opportunity to lead a team at the highest level of competition in Irish football and on the European stage in the Champions League.”
​
Gordon Brett will partner as Fortune’s Head Coach. A familiar face to all at the Midlands club, Brett now enters his 7th year of coaching since returning in 2019, following success across underage level.
​
He holds an UEFA A Licence, UEFA Elite Youth A Licence and an MSc. in Sport & Recreation Management.
​
On Brett's appointment Fortune said: “I’m absolutely delighted to get Gordon on board this season. Gordon is a top quality coach and will bring a wealth of experience to this group. He has all the qualities and characteristics that I admire in a coach and a person, and his work ethic and attention to detail is second to none.
​
At this level, you need to surround yourself with people you can trust and that you know will be as hard working as yourself. He thinks about the game in the same way as I do. A lot of his philosophies would align well with my own.
​
Gordon is a straight talker and won’t be afraid to voice his opinions. He will be a really good foil for myself, he’ll be great in and around the dressing room and more importantly his delivery of coaching sessions will be of top quality, he will improve the players and will challenge the players for their improvements during each interaction.”
​
Statistical Highlights from 2024 (Athlone Town's average v opponents average combined)
​
Goals per game: 2.05 v 0.84
​
xG: 2.11 v 0.95
​
Shots per game: 15.63 (5.84 on target) v 8.11 (3.26 on target)
​
Possession: 53.71% v 46.29%
​
Pass accuracy: 68.42%
​
Duels won 50.44% v 45.87%
​
Season outlook:
​
Competitors at their core, Athlone will be determined to deliver once again this season, their eyes no doubt on all three trophies.
​
Europe too beckons, a seriously exciting prospect in which some of the best players in our league will test themselves against unfamiliar competition.
​
With the retention of a number of key players, including Madie ‘The Magician’ Gibson, and the introduction of an experienced Championship player in Groves, you wouldn't bet against them.
​​
​
​​
​​