Hot-shot Madie Gibson on a mission to keep winning silverware with Athlone Town
Madison Gibson made the decision to follow her friend Dana Scheriff to Athlone Town and it has paid off massively both for her and the club after FAI Cup and League success - and with another Cup final to look forward to this afternoon
Madie Gibson will be the first to step up if today's Women's FAI Cup final goes to penalties - even though she missed last year.
The American's goals have been so important in Athlone Town's rise to the top of the domestic game and they are hoping to retain the Cup at Tallaght Stadium today - securing a first ever League and Cup double in the process.
Gibson hit the post with the first spot-kick in last year's final, after an absorbing encounter with Shelbourne - the sides meet in the decider for the third year in a row.
READ MORE:Ciaran Kilduff tells FAI: Don't make same mistake with women's game as you did with the men's
READ MORE:Athlone skipper Laurie Ryan on success earned and what the future holds after this FAI Cup final
But it was the only one missed by the midlanders and they lifted the trophy for the first time.
She's not exactly wishing for penalties, but the 27-year-old won't step down if it happens - and it could, with another close affair expected between the country's best sides.
"Hopefully not," Gibson said. "I mean, yeah, very nerve-wracking. Last year I missed, so hopefully none this year.
"It happens in football. I’ve missed many times in my career. I don’t let it get to me.
"I just put my faith in my team-mates and I know they’re going to make it. I’ll just be the test bunny for them and go first. Once you win, everyone forgets."
Gibson arrived in Athlone at the invitation of her good friend Dana Scheriff, who was at the club, and they both played their part in last year's breakthrough and both made the PFAI's team of the year.
Scheriff left the club after last season but Gibson, despite finishing her TUS midlands course, decided to stay on.
"I make decisions for myself," said Gibson. "It was sad to see her go and I knew it would be different for me here without her.
"But obviously I have my own goals I want to achieve with the club and still have goals, so focusing on myself to achieve those.
"This season has definitely been mentally challenging for us as a team. It almost feels like each week we were losing someone new.
"So we’ve had to put a lot of reliance on younger players and they have stepped up for us, or players being out of position. Each week we’ve had a setback but we’ve come back stronger and shown how much depth we have had."
What is clear is that Gibson believed that Athlone could grow from strength to strength this year.
"We want to win everything," she declared. "We’ve won the League and we’re lucky enough to be still training with an eye to winning something again.
"They're always good matches between us - Shels are a good team and we know it will be a tough match."
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