Students and Alumni Footballers Feature in Women's FAI Cup Final
DCU students and alumni were involved in Sunday’s Club Orange Women’s FAI Cup Final at Tallaght Stadium, as Shelbourne defeated Athlone Town 3–1 to lift the trophy.
The final saw DCU Soccer Scholars and graduates line out on both sides, with four members of the DCU football community involved across the two squads.
Lara Whelan
Lara Whelan was part of the Shelbourne squad for the final, continuing her first season with the club alongside her studies in Post Primary Education, Religion and History at DCU. The first-year Soccer Scholar has featured as a forward for Shels this season.
Nia Hannon
She will be joined by two fellow DCU alumni in the Shelbourne ranks. Defender Nia Hannon, who graduated from DCU earlier this year, has also been involved in Shelbournes run to the final, while Kate Mooney, a 2023 General Nursing graduate, provides another attacking option having returned to the club this season.
Shelbourne reached the final after a convincing 6-0 semi-final win over Cork City, with both Hannon and Mooney getting on the scoresheet.
On the other side, current DCU Soccer Scholar Melissa O’Kane represented Athlone Town. The fourth-year Bachelor of Education student at St Patrick’s Campus plays as a defender and came on at half-time in the final.
Athlone entered the final as defending champions, having secured their place in the decider following a penalty-shootout victory over Galway United in the semi-final. They had also been crowned SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division champions the previous evening, leaving them chasing a second consecutive league and cup double.
However, it was Shelbourne who took control at Tallaght Stadium. Halle Harcourt opened the scoring in the ninth minute before Alex Kavanagh doubled Shels’ advantage with a free-kick in the 36th minute. Maeve Wollmer added a third just before half-time to give Shelbourne a 3–0 lead.
Athlone continued to push after the break, with goalkeeper Mya Sanchez making several important saves to preserve Shelbourne’s advantage. Hannah Waesch pulled a goal back in the 90th minute, but Shelbourne held on to secure a 3–1 victory and the Women’s FAI Cup.
The result means Shelbourne claimed the FAI Cup for the first time since 2024, while Athlone’s hopes of completing back-to-back league and cup doubles came to an end.
Earlier this year, O’Kane captained the DCU Ladies team to the Lydon Cup, their first success in the competition since 2000. The FAI Cup Final provided another opportunity to see members of the DCU football community competing at the highest level of domestic women’s football in Ireland.
