Jessica Hennessy believes the tale of the game would have been different had her side gotten off on the right foot.
Cup final nerves were at play in Athlone Town's troubled start to their defeat to Shelbourne in Tallaght on Sunday.
That's according to their defensive lynchpin Jessica Hennessy.
The midlanders started the FAI Cup decider slowly and the Dublin side took full advantage with two goals from set pieces.
Athlone surged in the second half but narrowly and often failed to get a goal to get back in to the game.
Hennessy says the half time message from Tommy Hewitt got through to the players but the damage had been done by then:
Third Time The Charm As Laois Claim Joe McDonagh Cup
Offaly Pupils Become Local Stars After Publishing Bestselling Book
Katie Taylor To Fight At Croke Park In September
Laois And Westmeath Set For Big Tests In Intermediate Camogie Championship
I Knew I Had To Play A Good Round To Win - Ella Cantwell
Mullingar Athletic And Clonaslee United To Clash In Combined Counties Cup Final
Shane Lowry And Rory McIlroy In Contention At Memorial Tournament
There's Serious Competition In The Laois Panel - Mark Dowling
Westmeath Ladies Look To Book All-Ireland Quarter-Final Spot
Alex Dunne Aiming For Big Weekend In Monaco
Offaly Camogie Captain Looking Forward To Kilkenny Clash
Shane Lowry In Action At Memorial Tournament
Laois Aiming To Make It Third Time Lucky In Joe McDonagh Cup Decider
Galway To Host Westmeath On Sunday June 14th
Second Round Draw Made For FAI Cup
Cian Reddy Keeps Up Unbeaten Professional Record
Westmeath Ladies Get Opening Win In All-Ireland Intermediate Championship
Athlone Town Knocked Out Of All-Island Cup
Limerick See Off Offaly In Senior Camogie Championship