Shelbourne player Megan Smyth-Lynch says the end of the season in the Women’s National League really was nerve wracking, but was delighted to see them take home the league and cup in the end.
The end of the season really was a dramatic occasion for all involved, the tension was palpable in Wexford for that showdown between Youths and Shelbourne for the title, with the chance of Athlone making it a play-off if the result had gone their way.
Shelbourne watched on that Saturday evening as Wexford snatched a late draw with Peamount making it a final day showdown for the title, it was nerve wracking for all involved as Smyth-Lynch eluded too after speaking to FinalWhistle.ie after Sunday’s cup success in Tallaght.
It has been a long season for The Reds admits Smyth-Lynch, league and cup champions does have a ring to it after a strong showing to retain their league crown, while ending a cup drought since 2016. Smyth-Lynch believes the way they performed to end the season on a high was a credit to everyone involved in the club.
“No not at all when we started off the start of the year in pre season you know you look at what your competing in, your competing for the league and FAI Cup and we had a Champions League to prepare for as well, so on review of our whole season to win the league and cup and to participate in the Champions League and be unlucky in the final game.
There’s not really much more you can ask from the girls you know the amount of players that are after leaving during the season, we had a little hiccup in the middle of the year to finish the way we finished in the last two games just a credit, a credit to all the girls, staff, the supporters who’ve been fantastic all season we are absolutely delighted.”
Shelbourne looked on course early to cruise to a second league title in two years at the early point of the season, but dipped in form at times in the year unable to take results and surrendered their lead at the top of the table, Smyth-Lynch says only they could get themselves out of that slump in form and was happy the way it worked out in the end.
“I think we’d be lying if we said it wasn’t nerve wracking you know, we were kinda cruising come mid season and they we had a dip and it was up to ourselves to pull ourselves together and we knew coming into the last few games it was going to be a right bottle and thankfully things went our way and we were able to go down to Wexford and show what were about and put on a performance and win that league and the same again tonight.”
The Dubliners were certainly the favourites on Sunday, very few had given Athlone a chance all season and in that tie in Tallaght they were the underdogs, having met each other earlier in the year Shelbourne came out 2-0 winners, the most recent meetings were a draw and a win for Athlone, Smyth-Lynch was full of praise for Athlone that they knew they would cause hassle and are now a team fighting for the league title,
“We played Athlone three times during the season in the league and you know what your going to get from Athlone, really really tough side the way they’ve improved this year is unbelievable and a credit to them their coaching staff, players just wanna say congratulations to um, they really put it up to not just ourselves but Peamount and Wexford and they’ve joined the pack this year competing for the league.
So we knew what we were going to get from them, you know they are a hardworking team some really good individual players, at the back and up front they were going to be real threats and they were going to be difficult to break down and they were difficult to break down, it took us two early set pieces to get two goals and we were able to show why we’re champions from there and just see the game out.”
When the whistle sounded in Tallaght, the joy and emotion from Shelborne over flowed, they had done what they aimed to do toward the end of the season, take two different forms of silverware back home as a long season of ups and downs came to an end. They held firm for the final 20 minutes as Athlone had a goal ruled out and kept the pressure on the goal.
The weather made for a cold night in Dublin 24 but the flares in the stand kept the Shelbourne faithful; warm as they cheered on their team throughout the night, Smyth-Lynch feels they are all mentally and physically exhausted after the season, but can now breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy the celebrations.
“Huge Huge, you know two weeks ago all we wanted to do was win the next two games and we’ve two cups and you know you can your delighted but it’s relief as well to get over the line, it’s been a tough tough season we’re all tired mentally and physically as I said it’s been a long year we’re in since the end of January so to get that over the line, we’re just absolutely relieved but delighted yeah.”
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Diarmuid Kearney
Diarmuid Kearney is a freelance Sports Journalist based in Co Kerry. He has more than 5 years experience covering domestic and international soccer for different media organisations, while also working for local and national print and digital organisations covering GAA.