Oct 17,2024
There's no doubt that a burgeoning rivalry has been building up between Athlone Town and Shelbourne over the last couple of years.
Two years ago, Shels beat what was then an up-and-coming outfit from the Midlands on the way to sealing a double.
But then Athlone turned the tables in last year's final, triumphing on penalties to claim their first major trophy.
Now 2024 has seen them use that platform to propel themselves towards a maiden league title, pipping second-placed Shels to glory.
And as fate would have it, the two clubs are reunited in a cup final once again, with Athlone the ones now seeking a double.
There wasn't much between the teams during the league, including in their two head-to-heads which Athlone shaded overall, and Sunday is likely to be incredibly close.
Either way, they will be leaning on their respective strikers to make a big difference on the big day.
De Búrca suspects that when it comes to influencing the ultimate destination of the trophy, Mooney and Tabe will be the ones featuring most prominently as protagonists for their rival clubs.
Mooney signed for Shelbourne in July after returning to the club where she started her career following a year abroad, split between short spells at Lewes and Hearts.
She hit the ground running, finishing second top scorer in this year's league with nine - all from open play - and proved particularly potent with a plethora of goals during the league run-in and road to the cup final.
"She's really a striker that works off instinct and she can get those goals and a lot of them poacher's finishes but just so clinical and it's just so vital for a team that you know if you put the ball into the right areas that she's going to finish it and that's really crucial," said De Búrca.
On the other hand, Tabe is newer to the league but played a vital role in pushing Athlone over the line towards the title with six goals in the run-in, including a vital brace in a 2-1 win away at Wexford last month.
With pace to burn, running in behind, the Cameroonian offers multiple dimensions in attack given her propensity to score her fair share of headers.
"With her pace, she did prove dangerous and we saw it throughout the league since she's been playing here and it's difficult (for defenders) because she's not just a one-dimensional striker which a lot of strikers can tend to be," said De Búrca.
"Maybe they're better at holding the ball up or running in behind but I think she has it all and she can do the finishes as well.
"In the air, she's such a threat. Pearl (Slattery, Shels captain) is very good in the air as well, so she'll be hoping to be able to marshall (Tabe) in the air.
"But there's so many facets to her game that it will be interesting to see it in Tallaght on Sunday."
As for the collective, Athlone have had the edge this season as well as the 2023 cup final but Shels will be keen not to let that trend continue, De Búrca added.
"(Athlone) will definitely have that confidence but I think on the flipside Shels will want to be gunning for revenge and I think Shels on the hunt for revenge is definitely a dangerous team to play against," she said.
"Having missed out on the league this year and last year, they'll be really, really hungry for another trophy and they'll be going out all guns blazing in Tallaght on Sunday."
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