Dual star Laurie believes last year's final will stand to Athlone

Laurie Ryan is certainly no stranger to big sporting occasions. And on Sunday, the Clare woman will captain Athlone Town in the Women’s FAI Cup final for the second year in row.

Athlone will be hoping to go one better than last season when Shelbourne thwarted their hopes of national silverware and the same opponents lie in wait again in this Sunday’s decider at Tallaght Stadium (3pm).

But Laurie can also draw on her considerable experience in Gaelic football. Earlier this year she was on the Clare team which was edged out by Kildare (2-11 to 2-10) in the LGFA All-Ireland intermediate final at Croke Park.

As recently as last Sunday, Laurie played for her club side (Banner Ladies) in the Munster LGFA senior final in which they were defeated by Ballymacarby of Waterford.

With Athlone Town runners-up in last year’s cup final, also finishing second in the league, one could form the impression that Laurie is a perennial sporting bridesmaid.

Not so, however, as she has been involved in winning 14 Clare senior county titles with the Ennis-based Banner club. “I missed this year’s county final because it clashed with Athlone’s cup semi-final,” Laurie pointed out when asked about balancing her dual commitments.

A science lecturer in the Department of Sport in the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), Athlone, Laurie’s passion for sport burns as brightly as ever. And as if she isn’t busy enough between work and sporting commitments, Laurie also manages the TUS women’s soccer team along with David Dully. Athlone Town players Roisin Molloy, Kellie Brennan and Antea Guvo are current TUS students.

Naturally Laurie hopes the experience of contesting the Women’s FAI Cup final last year (which Shelbourne won 2-0) will stand to Athlone on Sunday.

“I think we have learned a lot from last year’s final. It was a big occasion and it was the biggest crowd we had ever played in front of. The whole day itself has a different feel to it than a regular league game,” Laurie told the Westmeath Independent.

“Maybe some of the girls were nervous in the first 20 minutes last year. This time we have that bit more experience and hopefully we won’t be overawed by the occasion.

“The build-up to this year’s final is more under the radar, while maybe there was a bit of a circus around it last year,” she continued.

Laurie feels confidence levels within the Athlone squad have been really boosted by beating teams such as eventual league champions Peamount United en route to the cup final. “We have beaten Peamount and Galway, both of whom finished ahead of us in the league. Cup finals can be tight and tense affairs and the most important thing is to stay in the game and not get breached early on.”

Having overcome Galway and Peamount on penalties, first choice goalkeeper Katie Keane has played a key role in the run to the final, so Athlone would have just cause to be confident if Sunday’s showpiece goes all the way to a shootout.

“Katie has done fantastic since she came in and Katie and Katherine Hess have really pushed each other,” Laurie remarked.

In general Laurie feels a number of players have impressed when coming off the bench and the competition for places means nobody can afford to rest on their laurels.

“We’ve had nothing to play for in the league for a while, but since we qualified for the cup final, it has kept up the competition for places. Everyone has to work hard to stay in the team,” she said.

In Athlone’s last league game of the season on Saturday, the midlanders battled back from being 4-1 down to draw 4-4 with Shamrock Rovers.

“It showed a brilliant mentality from all the girls. I’m pretty sure I’ve never been involved with a team who has come back from 4-1 down to get a result.

“We put them under relentless pressure and we felt if the game went on a few more minutes, we might have got a winner. The fitness levels of the players are good and we know we can stay with any of the top teams,” said Laurie.

It has been a season of significant upheaval at the club as a number of players left for pastures new before the campaign, while Tommy Hewitt departed as manager during the season.

“Personally, coming from a GAA background, it took me a while to get my head around the idea of players leaving. It’s not something I was used to. I felt that if all the players had stayed, we could have had a real go at winning the league this season,” said Laurie candidly.

“Losing Tommy (Hewitt) was a big blow as he had done so much for the team. There have been a lot moving parts and heads spinning this season, but Ciarán (Kilduff) and Ken (Kiernan) did well to settle the group and build a rapport. With new players coming in as well, it was like a fresh start for everyone and Ciarán hit the ground running and put his own stamp on things. That has shown in our form and we’ve only lost one game since Ciarán has come in, and that was actually against Shels.”

Asked about the strengths that Shelbourne bring to the table, Laurie said: “They beat us twice in the league this season and they finished a good few points ahead of us. We’re under no illusions about the massive battle we’re facing. Noelle Murray is a real game changer for them and young Hannah Healy is an up and coming star. They have international experience in their squad and they have a lot going for them.

“Their experience is a big plus for them and they know how to win games, but I’m hoping that our experience from last year’s final will help us to manage the game better. Also, hopefully the challenges we have come through this season will stand to us.

“We feel we have a great chance. A cup final is a sort of one-off game regardless of form coming into it,” added Laurie.