Holders Athlone Town made it an incredible five FAI Cup finals in a row as they eventually overcame a gutsy Galway United on penalties, to set up a showdown with title rivals Shelbourne for the fourth time in that run of deciders.
Alexis Strickland gave her side a dream start after nine minutes only to see her goal cancelled out by a stunning Cara Griffin leveller.
But it was Maria Matthaiou who stood tall to save the decisive penalty after 120-plus minutes of action brought no winner.
Despite the absence of top goalscorer Emma Doherty, who has bagged 14 in all competitions, and Remini Tillotson due to suspension, there was a confidence in the visitors’ dressing room having been the only team to taste victory over Lily Agg’s juggernaut and proved yet again to be more than just a thorn in their side.
The hosts welcomed back star winger Madie Gibson after a recent injury, but were still without the league’s top scorer in Dana Scheriff.
Having navigated a youthful and exuberant Peamount United during the week, Athlone showed no signs of fatigue against the well-rested Galwegians, and got off to a flying start.
The aforementioned Gibson was aggressive in midfield, winning the ball back and to set up a three v one counter-attack, releasing the pacey Izzy Ryan free on the right. With Strickland free in the middle, Ryan just overhit the cross allowing Amanda McQuillan to smother.
Moments later, the home side made up for the miss, getting in front thanks to some confusion at the back.
Niamh Farrelly’s initial tackle in the middle of the park sent the ball back towards her own goal, but Strickland was sharp to read the ball and forced a collision between the onrushing McQuillan and recovering Jade Rehberger. The ball spilled kindly to the lively striker and she made no mistake.
To their credit, the visitors showed why they have only fallen to one defeat in the league this season, and were inches away from levelling when Abbie Callanan struck the outside of the post with a beautiful volley from outside the area that had Mattaiou rooted to the spot.
The game settled into a real war of attrition as both sides refused to give an inch.
Despite the visitors enjoying a bit more possession, Matthaiou remained relatively untested and at the opposite end, Strickland’s pace and willingness continued to cause problems.
The half-time break did nothing to calm things and with nothing to lose, Galway looked the more dangerous after the restart, getting themselves into a couple of good situations as well as having strikes from distance.
But despite that determined start, it was the home side that went close to scoring next.
Following some clever build-up play down the left, Gibson delivered a pinpoint cross on to the head of Strickland who was unlucky to see her header come crashing off the crossbar and away to safety.
Galway United goalkeeper Amanda McQuillan (R) in action against Athlone’s Alexis Strickland
It was going to take something special for the visitors to level and substitute Griffin conjured up just that, collecting the ball on the right-hand side of the box, fainting to shoot and curling an outstanding effort into the far top corner with just over a quarter of an hour to play.
With the game finely poised, and at the end of a three-game week, the hosts did their best to escape unwanted extra-time as both Ryan and Hannah Waesch were denied by some top class McQuillan saves right at the death.
Extra-time followed at the same relentless pace with nothing to separate the sides as penalties beckoned.
In the nervy shoot-out, Galway opted to go first and both sides were perfect in the first four penalties taken until Isabella Beletic was unfortunate to sky her spot kick.
Roisin Molloy put the pressure on the visitors making it 3-2.
Both scored their next penalties before the unlucky Farrelly saw her effort saved by Matthaoiu to send her side into the final.
Athlone Town: Maria Matthaiou; Phoebe Hampson, Kelis Barton, Kayleigh Shine, Shauna Brennan; Melissa O’Kane (Emma Mooney 70’), Hannah Waesch; Izzy Ryan, Noelle Murray (Hazel Donegan, 59’), Madie Gibson (Roisin Molloy, 70’); Alexis Strickland (Chloe Singleton, 90+2’).
Galway United: Amanda McQuillan; Aoibheann Costello, Jade Rehberger, Ella Raimondi, Lucy Jane Grant; Eve Dossen, Isabella Beletic, Niamh Farrelly; Abbie Callanan (Lynsey McKey, 112’), Aoibheann Donnelly (Cara Griffin, 64’), Aislinn Meaney (Anna McGough, 106’).