Pearl Slattery led Shelbourne to FAI Cup glory on Sunday against Athlone Town and hailed her teammates for finally delivering a dream double.
This time last year it was heartache for the Reds, as they followed up their Women’s National League win with a Cup final defeat to Wexford Youths.
But they made no mistake this time around, thanks to goals from Jessie Stapleton and skipper Slattery.
“It’s unbelievable, you come in fighting for two trophies and we had unfinished business from last season. The season is long and to come out with a double is amazing,” said the defender.
The game wasn’t without controversy, however, with big question marks over the build-up to Shels’ opener - and to an Athlone goal in the second-half that was ruled out for offside.
Referee Sean Grant’s decision to award a free-kick 10 yards outside the Town penalty area drew protests from their players and the bench.
There didn’t seem to be any danger, however, when Alex Kavanagh’s delivery went all the way through to goalkeeper Niamh Coombes.
But she dropped the ball onto the shoulder of teenager Stapleton and it bounced over the line.
The decision to chalk off Scarlett Herron’s brilliant 70th minute header, as Athlone battled for a way back into the game, only further angered Town boss Tommy Hewitt.
He said: “Congrats to Shels but my team were immense in the second-half, we worked all year for this moment and we got let down with a few decisions.
“I’m immensely proud in this moment, the sky’s the limit for this group. If we stick together, we can become a dominant force in the next five years.”
Hewitt’s frustration was understandable, as his side gave everything in pursuit of a comeback. However, Shelbourne’s experience helped them see the game out.
This time last year the Reds’ double bid faltered against Wexford Youths, but they made no mistake yesterday.
If the opening goal was debatable, Athlone only had themselves to blame for the concession of the second on 24 minutes.
Goalkeeper Coombes was beaten in the air to a corner by Shauna Fox and skipper Slattery headed home past Munroe at the near post.
Athlone, to their credit, reacted well to the concession of both goals. But where Shels were clinical, the midlanders lacked a cutting edge up front.
Emily Corbet was a threat, but the Shels defence, marshalled by Slattery and Fox, got to grips with her after a couple of shaky moments early in the game.
Roisin Molloy was impressive on the right-hand-side, but it wasn’t until the final half-hour that Athlone began to really test Reds goalkeeper Amanda Budden.
She kept out shots from Molloy and Maddison Gibson, who on 79 minutes coughed up Athlone’s best chance of a comeback when she fired over from eight yards.
Double-winning boss King hailed his players as they finally secured a double, 12 months after last season’s Cup final heartache.
“The double is the hardest one to get and this is the sweetest. They’re amateurs but they behave like professionals. They’re an incredible bunch of people,” he said.
“They caused us a lot of trouble. The message was they would come at us with the breeze and we would have to defend.
“We’re a good defending team as well as a good attacking team. We had a great squad all season.
“We’ve some great young players from Jess and Abbie Larkin to Pearl Slattery, I don’t want to single people out but we’ve a great mix of young and old.
“Winning is winning is winning. The ones I remember are the ones I lost including the final last year. So this year is special.
“Don’t say well done to me, say it to the players, it’s a players’ game.
“This is unbelievable and great to see the advances in the women’s game, there is no end to it. We’ll embrace it and enjoy it.”
