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Men’s Match Preview: UCD (A)

Date: 4th July 2024
Kick-off: 7.45pm
Venue: UCD Bowl

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of this much-anticipated match.

Tonight’s match is a crucial battle for second place as The Town aims to secure a win, which would mean that we leapfrog The Students in the standings with a game in hand.

UCD come into this fixture with 1 win and 4 draws from their last five league games.

The Town have 2 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss in the five recent league outings

Team News

Athlone Town AFC Enda Minogue is out with a hip injury and will be sidelined for at least 5-6 weeks. New signings Lee Axworthy, Kyle Robinson, and Jack Harrington are all available for matchday selection.

Match Tickets
Tickets for the game can be purchased by clicking here.
Adults €15 Concessions €10 Children €5

Supporter information can be found here.

Follow the Athlone Town AFC channel on WhatsApp: Click Here for The WhatsApp Channel

Live Coverage:

The game will be streamed live on LOITV at the below link. Individual match passes can be purchased for €5 or viewers can purchase a season pass which will give them access to all games across the League of Ireland.

ATHLONE TOWN V UCD (loitv.ie)

Referee Team
Referee: 
Aaron O’Dowd
1st Assistant Referee: Jonathan Hennessy
2nd Assistant Referee: Thomas Joyce
4th Official: Shane O’Brien

Supporter Information: UCD Bowl

Supporter Information: UCD Bowl

This guide offers advice for any Athlone Town supporters travelling to UCD FC on Friday night.

Stadium Information 🏟

Kick-off: 7.45pm

Eircode:

Clonskeagh Road is best to access The UCD Bowl, use AIB Bank Clonskeagh Road as a GPS landmark.

Pre Match Food and Beverage Options
Food 🍟

Food available at The Student Centre and drinks at The Clubhouse Bar. Both are a  three minute walk from The UCD Bowl.

Additional information ℹ️

Security 🔓

Bag checks and security screening may be conducted upon entry. Please review the stadium’s prohibited items list to avoid any complications.

Supporter Liaison Officer ℹ️

If you have any queries, feel free to reach out to Adam Lee on the following platforms:

X: @ATAFCSLO

Email: slo@athlonetownafc.ie

Safe travels and enjoy the game!

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Women’s Match Preview: Treaty United (H)

Date: 15th of June 2024
Kick-off: 7.30pm
Venue: Athlone Town Stadium

Athlone Town AFC return to Women’s Premier Division action tonight, Treaty United are the visitors to Athlone Town Stadium. The game will kick off at 7.30pm.

Athlone are unbeaten in five and sit third in the table today, but while all eyes maybe on a game at 2pm today, Athlone won’t be underestimating this strong Treaty United Team.

Ciaran Kilduff stated, “We are only concentrating on our own games. We have a tough test against a good team, we played them in preseason, and they showed us how difficult they can be to play against. We need to do our job and go and play well.”

Team News

Athlone Town AFC come into the game with a couple of injury concerns. Ciara Glackin is still ruled out. Kate Slevin is out for an extended period, and Kellie Brennan picked up an knock midweek but is ok to play.

Past Encounters

Athlone Town and Treaty played in preseason, and it was a tight game so we expect the same today.

Key Players to Watch

For Athlone Town AFC Madison Gibson has the X-Factor. She can turn a game on its head in a matter of minutes. Her contributions since joining the club have been huge and here’s hoping she can continue to deliver again today.

For Treaty United Cara Griffin’s stats were off the charts last year she is a gem of a player and is very dangerous when on the ball.

Match Tickets
Tickets for the game can be purchased by clicking here.
Adults €10 Concessions €5

Live Coverage:

The game will be streamed live on LOITV at the below link. Individual match passes can be purchased for €5 or viewers can purchase a season pass which will give them access to all games across the League of Ireland.

To Watch Click Here

Follow the Athlone Town AFC channel on WhatsApp: Click Here for The WhatsApp Channel  

Referee Team
Referee
Aaron O Dowd
1st Assistant Referee: Dylan Redmond
2nd Assistant Referee: John Hanney       
4th Official: Jason Moore

Men’s Match Preview: Bray Wanderers (A)

Date: 13th of June 2024
Kick-off: 7.45pm                            
Venue: Carlisle Grounds

Athlone have been a real mixed bag this season. Despite being top of the form tables and beating league leaders Cork City at home, it’s their away form that has struggled in 2024. The Town only have two wins on the road in ten attempts so they will certainly be looking to make amends following their last visit to the Carlisle Grounds.

The schedule has been busy, but Athlone have the advantage of playing a match less in recent weeks, as their last fixture against Wexford FC was postponed due to players being away on international duty, so they should be well rested and ready for action today. This will be Bray’s fourth match in two weeks and they have a number of injury concerns.

Both teams will have something to prove and with only three points between the two clubs, it’s all to play for Thursday night in the Carlisle Grounds.

Dario Castelo spoke to staff at AthloneTownAFC.ie and told them, “There have been a lot of games in the last two weeks, and we were very happy to get back to winning ways on Monday last. It’s important we continue with this momentum and continue to play well for the fans on the road.”

Team News

Athlone Town AFC German Fuentes is still on international duty so he is ruled out. Enda Minogue is a doubt as he is still carrying an injury.

Bray Wanderers Goalkeeper Jimmy Corcoran, striker Ben Feeney as well as defenders Cole Omorehiomwan and Evan Osam are sidelined with injury.

Past Encounters

We have played Bray twice this season and both teams have come away with a win. It wasn’t a happy trip to the Carlise Grounds last time we visited as a ten-man Athlone were well beaten 3-0 at the Carlisle Grounds. Shane Griffin’s first half goal was added by Paul Murphy and Peter Grogan in the second period. In the return fixture at the Athlone Town Stadium in May, Athlone won 2-1. Dean Ebbe scored twice before Paul Murphy pulled one back for Bray in the second period.

Key Players to Watch

Athlone Town AFC Jamar Campion-Hinds has returned from a long-term layoff and looked really bright on his return. He is back to his best and can really turn a game on its head on his day, he is one to watch.

Bray Wanderers Killian Cantwell was linked to return to his former club Athlone in the off-season, but the Kilkenny man has enjoyed his time with the seasiders since signing for them, a real leader on and off the pitch he will certainly be a handful for the Athlone forwards to deal with.

Match Tickets
Tickets for the game can be purchased by clicking here.

Follow the Athlone Town AFC channel on WhatsApp: Click Here for The WhatsApp Channel

Live Coverage:
The game will be streamed live on LOITV at the below link. Individual match passes can be purchased for €5 or viewers can purchase a season pass which will give them access to all games across the League of Ireland.

BRAY WANDERERS V ATHLONE TOWN (loitv.ie)

Referee Team
Referee:
Lucas Keating  
1st Assistant Referee: Shane O Brien
2nd Assistant Referee: Sean Stephens
4th Official: Ian O Keeffe

Men’s Match Report: Finn Harps (A)

Our Senior Men travelled north to Balleybofey to take on Finn Harps on Monday 3rd June 2024. This is a tricky fixture for Athlone, having lost the last meeting in Finn Park back in Week 3 of the League of Ireland First Division.

Since then, both teams have had relatively strong campaigns, and both sit in the play-off positions in the table. When the sides last met in Athlone Town Stadium, Athlone ran out 1-0 winners thanks to a Dean Ebbe header, so they go into this fixture honours even for 2024.

Athlone went into this game with a number of selection issues. Aaron Connolly was serving a suspension, German Fuentes Rodriquez was away on international duty, and both Carl Mujaguzi and Mathew Leal were out injured.

Athlone started the match well and their first opening came on the fifth minute, when a long diagonal ball from the centre circle by Oisin Duffy released Jamar Campion-Hinds who reached the ball on the end line but his cross was blocked for Athlone’s first corner, but this was cleared with ease. Oisin and Jamar combined once again minutes later, but his looped cross was cleared by the Harps defence.

Athlone will be wondering how they didn’t take the lead on the ninth minute. Jamar Campion-Hinds crossed the pitch to take a long throw from the left touchline. His long throw managed to reach the goalmouth, bouncing through the legs of David Cawley who was eight yards from goal and falling perfectly to Dan McKenna but his volleyed shot was saved brilliantly by Tim-Oliver Hiemer at point-blank range, a save that will surely be considered for save of the season. From the initial save, there was a scramble at the post with Van Geenen attempting to poke it home, but a free out was given. A huge let-off for Finn Harps early on, but Athlone will be wondering will the rue such a big chance missed.

The match was evenly poised with no clear chances for either side other than the McKenna opportunity. On the twenty sixth minute, a long ball over the top for Finn Harps set Sean O’Donnell away, but he was tackled by two Athlone players and a free out was given. Minutes later a similar ball over the top had O’Donnell in a 1v1, but this time another free was given away and a yellow card was received for pulling Dylan Hand to the ground.

Five minutes later, Shane Forbes also picked up a yellow card for a badly timed tackle on Sean O’Donnell who was about to start a counter attack for Harps down their right wing.

On the thirty third minute, Harps captain Tony McNamee played a first time ball down the middle which looked to have set Patrick Ferry through on goal at the edge of the box, but the ball bounced off the back of Noah Van Geenen and Enda Minogue was able to clean up.

Athlone’s Campion Hinds was creating lots of opportunities down the right, and a bullet cross into the box was well cleared for a corner by Jamie Watson. The resulting corner presented a huge chance Dylan Hand, but again the Harps keeper made a great save. From the next corner, Harps broke on the counter and the ever ready Sean O’Donnell was fouled tactically by Van Geenen, who received a yellow card.

The first half ended with the score 0-0 and the home side will have Hiemer in goal to thank for keeping the visitors scoreless.

The second half started with a big chance for Finn Harps, Sean O’Donnell turned on a loose ball and hit a powerful shot from outside the box which narrowly went over the crossbar.

In the fifty-first minute, Oakley turned his man and the deflected cross was well saved by Hiemer for his third reflex save. Athlone made their first change shortly after (55) with Divine Izekor replacing Shane Forbes.

Finn Harps started the second half well and got their biggest chance for a goal in the fifty-seventh minute. Luke O’Brien crossed in a great ball and Patrick Ferry got there before the onrushing Athlone goalkeeper, but his header clipped the crossbar. A sign for Athlone that it wasn’t going to be one-way traffic.

Athlone finally broke the deadlock on seventy minutes when Izekor made a mazing run into the box, squared to Tetteh who placed the ball across the goal and into the far corner, a well taken goal to give Athlone a deserved lead.

Minutes later, Harps looked to get back into it with a long ball into the box, but Minogue rose highest to claim the ball and relieve the pressure.

On the seventy-sixed minute, Tetteh released Campion-Hinds on the right wing but his shot was initially well saved by the Finn Harps keeper, the rebound was squared by Jamar to the onrushing Dean Ebbe who had time and space but his placed shot curled over the crossbar.

With ten minutes remaining, a Finn Harps corner went over the top and Jamie Watson connected on the volley but his shot from the edge of the six was cleared off the line by Dean Ebbe. From the resulting clearance, Tetteh took the ball in his own half and went on a solo run turning past three Harps players and his cross cleared to strike the arm of Matthew Makinson but the referee deemed his arm to be in a natural position.

With time running out, Finn Harps were starting to put on the pressure and had two big chances blocked, but Athlone were still under pressure and the equalizing goal eventually came on the eighty-eight minute when a cross by substitute Gavin McAteer was flicked on by Patrick Ferry to the far corner of the net.

The game finished 1-1 and an even game over with the better of the chances falling to Athlone, but a point on the road is not the worst outcome having given their all to defeat league leaders Cork City just a couple of days earlier.

Athlone Team: Enda Minogue, Noah Van Geenen, Daniel McKenna, Dylan Hand, Dean Ebbe, Jamar Campion-Hinds, Amardo Akeem Oakley, Shane Forbes, Oisin Duffy, Brian Torre, Gideon Tetteh. Subs: Gabriel Padilla, Divine Izekor, Adbo Babatunde, Roscoe Rubinstein, Ciaran Nolan, Shaun O’Donnell.

Women’s Match Preview: Cork City (A)

Date: 8th of June 2024
Kick-off: 5pm
Venue: Turners Cross

Here is everything you need to know ahead of this much-anticipated match

The league resumes for Athlone town following the international break. Ciaran Kilduff’s team come into this game having won their last two league games. The town won away to Sligo and at home to Cork. The face the difficult trip to Cork to face a much-improved City side.

Cork come into the game having lost to Shels but securing a very impressive victory against Shamrock Rovers.

Coming into the game AthloneTownAFC.ie spoke to manager Ciaran Kilduff and he gave his thoughts on the fixture.

Each game in this division is important and we know how much this Cork side have improved. We have a long trip ahead and must go and play well and work together to try and get a result”.

Team News

Athlone Town AFC have players starting exams, we also have a couple of long-term injuries with players out for the rest of the season.

Past Encounters

Encounters between these sides are usually close affairs and we expect this to be similar

Key Players to Watch

For Athlone Town AFC,Kayleigh Shine is one of the best centre backs in the league and shows thy week in and week out. Having been with the club since it started, she is truly a club great already.

Cork City Eva Mangan fresh off international duty, is one to watch. She is a really important player for Cork and showed how dangerous she can be in Dalymount with a superb goal against Boh’s.

Follow the Athlone Town AFC channel on WhatsApp: Click Here for The WhatsApp Channel

Referee Team
Referee:
Lucas Keating   
1st Assistant Referee: David Connolly 
2nd Assistant Referee: Simon Drislane
4th Official: Trevor Cotter

Match Preview: Finn Harps (A)

Pre-Match Preview: Finn Harps vs Athlone Town AFC

Date: Monday 3rd of June 2024

Kick-off: 5pm

Venue: Finn Park, Ballybofey, Co. Donegal

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of this much-anticipated match.

Athlone come into this game following a quick turnaround, having played Cork City on Friday. 

Athlone town are the inform team in the division, but this fixture is one they would prefer to have when they have a full squad to pick from. This bank holiday weekend could shape the chase for the playoffs with Cork (1st) playing UCD (2nd) and Athlone (3rd) playing Finn Harps (4th) with just two points between second and fourth there isn’t much to separate the three teams, it must also be pointed out that both Wexford and Bray are just two points behind 4th position so they will be waiting to pounce on any slip from the three teams ahead.

Harps come into the game having bounced back from a defeat to Kerry by beating Wexford in their last game.

Athlone beat run away league leaders Cork City last time out and this fixture will have seen them play the first, second and fourth place teams in their last three fixtures.

Having played Harps twice, you can read about both fixtures here; Away Game Home Game, both team have won at home so its all pointing to a difficult visit to Ballybofey for Dario’s side.

Coming into the game AthloneTownAFC.ie spoke to manager Dario Castelo and he gave his thoughts on the fixture.

This group is brilliant they work hard for one another; we must continue with the same mentality. It’s another important game Monday, but to compete in this league they are all important games. we have a long trip ahead and must go and play well and work together to try and get a result”.

Team News

Athlone Town AFC have it seems now an injury crisis. These three games in eight days couldn’t have come at a worse time for the squad. Enda Minogue struggled during the game Friday and had missed training last week he is a big doubt, Brian Torre picked up a knock and he’s a doubt. Carl Mujaguzi and Mathew Leal are ruled out having both gotten injured in the Cork fixture. Aaron Connolly is suspended. German Fuentes Rodriguez is away on international duty, so he misses the next two games. Andrew Stuart Trainor is starting exams.

Past Encounters

Athlone and Harps have played twice this year the first playing out as a 2-0 victory for Harps in Ballybofey. The return fixture in Athlone Town Stadium was a happier time for the Town as they finished 1-0 winners thanks to a Dean Ebbe goal

Key Players to Watch

For Athlone Town AFC,Armado Oakley has been great on his return to fitness and has looked really exciting so far since arriving at the club

Finn Harps forward Success Edogun who is well known to Athlone Town fans has developed well since he left Athlone and will be hoping to his three goals this season.

Match Tickets

Tickets for the game can be purchased here.

Follow the Athlone Town AFC channel on WhatsApp: Click Here for The WhatsApp Channel

Live Coverage:

The game will be streamed live on LOITV at the below link. Individual match passes can be purchased for €5 or viewers can purchase a season pass which will give them access to all games across the League of Ireland.

FINN HARPS V ATHLONE TOWN (loitv.ie)

Referee Team
Referee:
Daryl Carolan   
1st Assistant Referee: Richard Storey 
2nd Assistant Referee: Philip Harrison
4th Official: Glen Geraghty

Men’s Match Report: Cork City (H)

Athlone Win Against League Leaders

High Flying Cork City were the visitors on the 31st of May 2024 where Athlone were victorious in a 1-0 win in Athlone Town Stadium.

Dario made two changes following his side’s 2–2 draw at home to UCD last Friday, with Jamar Campion-Hinds replacing Oisin Duffy, and Matthew Leal replace the suspended Daniel McKenna. Dario plans changed as Mathew was seen limping in during the warmup and this meant Noah Van Geenen returned to the starting lineup for the first time in a number of weeks following a long spell out with injury.

Both teams started well with nice passages of possession, but it was Cork who had the first real chance of the game in the 8th minute. A nice bit of play down the right-hand side saw Nevin get a cross in it was laid off to Brookwell to get the strike away and it was almost turned in by Jack Doherty.

Aaron Connolly picked up a yellow Card in the 12th minute of the game which rules him out of Monday’s trip to Finn Harps.

In the 18th minute the ball was bouncing around from team to team in the centre of the pitch. Dean Ebbe won a header just inside the Cork City half and found Carl Mujaguzi who hits it into space on the right hand side giving Jamar something to chase and a chance to run at the Cork Defence. Jamar took on McLaughlin and his cross come shot went in over the Keeper’s head at the back post putting Athlone 1-0 up.

Cork had the ball in the back of the net themselves in the 30th minute. A well worked freekick from the visitors saw a ball whipped in left footed to the head of Charlie Lyons who headed it past Enda Minogue in the Athlone goal but it was ruled out as the offside flag went up.

The visitors had a great chance to draw level in the 38th minute when Jack Doherty won a header from a long clearance. It broke to Coffey, who found Cian Murphy on the right wing who took on Dylan Hand and managed to get his cross into Doherty, but he couldn’t find the back of the net. It was a great chance and Doherty will feel he probably could have drawn his side level.

The sides entered the break with the hosts 1–0 to the good, with Athlone playing all the football in the first half.

The second half City were stepping on and pressing Athlone trying to get back into the game. There was one change at half time as Oisin Duffy replaced Carl Mujaguzi.

In the 52nd minute, Barry Coffey picked out Cian Murphy with an accurate cross into the box from the right-hand side, but the striker’s glancing header was straight at Enda who saved easily.

A lovely move by Athlone moments after resulted in a strong appeal for a penalty but the referee waved play on. A long ball forward by Jack Doherty was intercepted by Oakley, who looked to go to the front himself and his ball was won by Charlie Lyons who looked to step into midfield. He was closed quicky by Dean Ebbe who managed to win possession back for his side with the ball breaking to Oakley and Athlone passed the ball well from Duffy to Connolly, to Tetteh who played in Duffy behind and a coming together between him and City’s Evan McLaughlin had the home fans on their feet looking for a penalty, but it was not to be.

Cork were reduced to ten men for the last twenty minutes when Evan McLaughlin was shown a second yellow card after he appeared to strike Oisin Duffy as he tried to collect the ball from the Athlone captain.

Cork thought they had drawn level in the 71st minute when Charlie Lyons chipped the ball over the out-rushing Enda Minogue but somehow Brian Torre cleared the ball off the line and kept the hosts 1-0 up. A great bit of defending by Torre.

Athlone were really showing the advantage of the extra player for the last few minutes of the game. The Cork goalkeeper Wade made some very impressive saves to keep his side in the game, but Athlone finished the stronger of the two teams and held on to win the game 1-0.

Following match day seventeen sees Athlone stay third on thirty points and Cork stay way out on front with thirty-nine points.

Unfortunately for Athlone, Aaron Connolly picked up a yellow card to rule him out of the Harps game.

Athlone Town AFC: Enda Minogue, German Fuentes Rodriguez, Noah Van Geenen, Dylan Hand, Aaron Connolly ©, Dean Ebbe, Jamar Campion-Hinds (Shane Forbes 95’), Carl Mujaguzi (Oisin, Duffy 46’), Amardo Oakley, Brian Torre (Jarlath Jones 92’), Gideon Tetteh (Ruben Candal 93’)

Unused Substitutes: Shaun O Donnell, Gabriel Padilla, Divine Izekor, Roscoe Rubinstein, (Matthew Leal injured in the warmup)

Bookings: Connolly (13), Van Geenen (64), Ebbe (70), Duffy (71), Oakley (97)

Attendance: 852

AthloneTownAFC.ie Man of The Match: Brian Torre

Men’s Match Preview: Cork City (H)

Date: 31st of May 2024
Kick-off: 7.45pm
Venue: Athlone Town Stadium

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of this much-anticipated match.

Both teams come into this game having won two of their last five fixtures. Athlone’s last defeat came at the hands of Bray Wanderers, but two draws from winning positions in the last two games has Athlone fans worrying. 

Athlone Town are the in-form team behind Cork and they sit in third place on twenty-seven points. Cork won the last time we played (Click Here To Read About It) but it was the start of a turnaround in form for Athlone. Athlone are twelve points behind Cork and this is the last game in the second round of fixtures, so a win would put us in a good position at the half way point.

Coming into the game, AthloneTownAFC.ie spoke to manager Dario Castelo and he gave his thoughts on the fixture.

We played a great side in UCD and now we play another good team in Cork. We started well but it was a difficult game, this week we know if we play how we can, we can create problems for any team.

Team News

Athlone Town AFC have a couple of injury concerns, Enda Minogue picked up a knock during the game last week and a missed training so is a doubt. Noah Van Geenen is being eased back to play and Dan McKenna is suspended.

Past Encounters
Athlone and Cork have only played 19 times since 2010 and on paper it doesn’t look good from an Athlone perspective.  Athlone have only won three of those 19 games and conceded 50 goals, so it is a tough task for the home side. On a positive note, we were unlucky not to get a point in Turners Cross earlier in the season and beat them the last time we played in Athlone Town Stadium, albeit Cork had already won the league at that point.

Key Players to Watch

For Athlone Town AFC, Brian Torre has been getting better every week, he is good on the ball going forward and his positioning is top class. Its only a matter of time before he gets his first goal for the club.

Cork City Jack Doherty is on the return from injury and he has five goals already this season is a midfielder that can hurt the home side if allowed time on the ball.

Match Tickets
Tickets for the game can be purchased by clicking here.
Adults €15 Concessions €10 Children €5

Follow the Athlone Town AFC channel on WhatsApp: Click Here for The WhatsApp Channel

Live Coverage:
The game will be streamed live on LOITV at the below link. Individual match passes can be purchased for €5 or viewers can purchase a season pass which will give them access to all games across the League of Ireland.

ATHLONE TOWN V CORK CITY (loitv.ie)

Referee Team
Referee:
Eoghan O Shea   
1st Assistant Referee: Niall McLoughlin 
2nd Assistant Referee: Christopher Daly
4th Official: Marc Lynch

Women’s Match Report: Sligo Rovers (A)

Casey Shows Us Howe Its Done.

Athlone Town won 2-0 against Sligo Rovers on the 25th of May 2024.It was an entertaining game in the Showgrounds where Athlone started brightly, and it was the visitors that hit the front first.

In the 7th minute the move was started by a magnificent ball forward by Kayleigh Shine giving Roisin Molloy something to chase, Molloy got the cross in and it was flicked on wonderfully by Chloe Singleton to the former Sligo Rovers player Casey Howe who made no mistake from 8 yards out putting the town 1-0 up.

Casey almost had a second in the 16th minute when she headed a Madison Gibson corner goal ward, but it was well held by Amber Hardy in the Rovers goal.

Hardy was called on again in the 19th minute the ball broke to the edge of the area, after an Athlone attack, to Kate Slevin who fired a shot at goal from 20 yards out and it was well saved by Hardy.In the 23rd minute, Sligo had the ball in the net, but the referee had blown the whistle and Katie Keane was fouled as the ball came in and it was a free out to Athlone.

A Madison Gibson ball forward to the left wing, set Athlone on the attack with Casey Howe who ran at the Sligo defence and her pull back was to Molloy whose shot was deflected but found its way into the arms of the Sligo Rovers goalkeeper.

In the 45th minute a Jesi Rossman freekick was flicked on by Chloe Singleton towards Madison Gibson who had just drifted offside. It made its way to Casey Howe who turned the ball home but it was chalked off for the offside offence. Sligo finished the half brightly, but it was the visitors who went in at the break 1-0 up.

Sligo Rovers, just after break, felt they could have had a penalty for a challenge by Shauna Brennan on Keri Loughrey, but the referee waved play on.

Athlone had a chance to double their lead in the 53rd minute when a Shauna Brennan cross from the left-hand side was met at the back post by Roisin Molloy but she couldn’t get a good connection and it went wide, it was a let off for the hosts.

Athlone did double their lead in the 65th minute when Rossman controlled a Sligo Rovers clearance at the halfway line. Rossman pumped the ball forward to Shauna Brennan who with a bit of work to do, cushioned to ball into the path of Casey Howe who had time to pick her spot and with her first touch fired the ball in the net putting Athlone 2-0 up.

In 66th minute Howe was looking for her hat trick when she shot from just outside the box, but it never really troubled Hardy in the Sligo goal.In the 76th minute Athlone had a chance to put the game to bed when Madison Gibson ran down the left wing despite being held back by her opponent got her cross in, which was left for Singleton by Brown, but Chloe shot was just wide of the post.

Both teams would create another couple of chances but it was Athlone that held on for the win and sees them move back to third in the table on sixteen points and Sligo stay tenth on three points as we head into the international break.

Next up for Athlone is a trip to Cork on the 8th of June.

Athlone Town AFC: Katie Keane, Kellie Brennan, Kayleigh Shine, Shauna Brennan (Gillian Keenan 81′), Jesi Lynne Rossman, Kate Slevin (Ciara O’Neill 89’), Chloe Singleton, Casey Howe (Isabel Ryan 89’), Laurie Ryan ©, Roisin Molloy (Kerryanne Brown 65′), Madison Gibson.

Unused Substitutes: Amy Mahon, Antea Guvo, Mary Philips, Aoife Murphy O’Connor, Hazel Donegan.

Attendance: Unknown

AthloneTownAFC.ie Player of The Match: Casey Howe