Ciaran Kilduff won it all as a League of Ireland player with Shamrock Rovers, Dundalk and Shelbourne, but Sunday's Sports Direct FAI Women's Cup triumph felt different.

The 35-year-old succeeded Tommy Hewitt at Athlone Town last June when morale was low.

A brilliant 2022 campaign was followed by a talent drain in the winter, with other clubs picking off some of Athlone's brightest stars. They'd finished second in the league and lost the cup final to Shels; it felt like they'd been a victim of their own success.

But Kilduff galvanised the group, bringing in some fresh faces and setting the squad a clear target: win the FAI Cup. That mission was accomplished thanks to a thrilling penalty shootout win over Shels.

"I came in, we got Ken Kiernan [who had been coaching at Shels], two new goalkeepers and loads of new players," Kilduff reflected.

"It felt like the six-week break because of the World Cup allowed us to have a mini pre-season and allowed me to find my feet.

"The club backed me and has given me everything I wanted. I will admit, I have worked hard and it was for today. This was always the plan. When I took over we were in seventh position in the league - the league was never going to be won. The cup was the only thing we could salvage this season.

"We didn't have it easy. We beat Peamount who won the league, we beat Shelbourne who finished second and beat Galway United who are All-Island champions along the route and Sligo to boot. We did it the hard way but we earned it. The hard work paid off."

Kilduff has a mantelpiece full of medals from his playing days but he insisted Athlone's triumph at Tallaght Stadium has given him a level of satisfaction impossible to achieve unless you're leading a group.

"Ah no, this is different," he said. "I got one medal for anything I won as a player. Today, I honestly feel like I got 26 because you have the responsibility of all of those players, all of those families, the club. I knew how much everyone wanted it. I probably value mine the least, I'm just happy they won it."

A rollercoaster game twisted and turned throughout, with Athlone looking dead and buried after Jemma Quinn fired the Reds ahead in extra-time.

Enter Gillian Keenan, who came off the bench to volley home an equaliser and give her team the chance to win it in the shootout.

"There is just something about Gillian, she is such a great character," said Kilduff.

"She can be quiet sometimes but she’s just a great person. For her to bag what feels like a winner I couldn't be happier and prouder of her."

It's almost 100 years since Sthlone won the men's FAI Cup for the first and only time. They can finally add another trophy to the cabinet now, denying Noel King another piece of silverware in what was his final game in charge of Shelbourne.

"That was flagged to me during the week, they were telling me it’s nearly 100 years," added Kilduff.

"I said ‘not yet’. We’ll have to retain it now next year! When I took over in June, this was the plan but you couldn't have imagined it to go the way it did. The run we had in the league, and to win here in that fashion against such a good team.

"You have to wish Noel King all the best. We had a great chat on Monday and spoke before the shoot-out as well. I have nothing but respect and I was to wish him and his staff well. What they have done for Irish football and Shels in the last couple of years has been amazing and something I'll take inspiration from myself."