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Congratulations to Carl Mujaguzi and German Fuentes Rodriguez who have been selected for their countries upcoming international fixtures!

Swedish-raised Carl has recieved his maiden call-up to the country of his birth, Uganda ahead of their international friendlies with Ghana and Comoros. Both games will take place in Morocco on March 22nd and 26th in the city of Marrakech.

German has been called up for his nation’s friendlies in America. El Salvador will play Bonaire in Washington on March 20th, Argentina in Philadelphia on March 22nd, and Honduras in Houston on March 26th.

Best of luck to both players who will be representing the club on the international stage!

Hand Saves Athlone Blushes

Are Kerry starting to become a bogey team for Athlone? The team from the Kingdom love the trip to the midlands.

Athlone made one change from the Finn Harps defeat with Gideon Tetteh coming in for Noah van Geenen. Both teams enjoyed lots of spells on the ball but there was very little goal mouth action to warm the fans on a cold evening in Athlone Town Stadium. In the first half there was very little chances to speak about but Athlone came close to breaking the dead lock when Dean Ebbe saw his header from Connolly’s right wing cross just miss the target.

There were no changes at halftime but Kerry had become more attacking at Okwuy Okwute opened the scoring for the visitors when he struck a wonderful shot from the right of the penalty area which gave Minogue no chance in the Athlone goal, 55 Mins in and Kerry were 1-0 up.

Athlone levelled from the corner of the half after 72 minutes when Dylan Hand flicked McKenna’s delivery over the keeper. Athlone attacked a lot more in the final few minutes but Kerry held out to gain their first point of the season.

Following matchday four, this sees Athlone stay fourth and moves Kerry to ninth in the table.

Athlone Town AFC: Enda Minogue, German Fuentes Rodriguez, Jarlath Jones (Ruben Candal 58’), Gideon Tetteh (Dylan Gavin 76’), Daniel McKenna, Dylan Hand, Aaron Connolly (C), Dean Ebbe, Carl Mujaguzi (Shane Forbes 58’), Amardo Oakley, Jamal Ibrahim (Brian Torre 58’)

Unused Substitutes: Andrew Stuart Trainor, Noah van Geenen, Oisin Duffy, Devine Izekor, Roscoe Rubinstein

Bookings: Connolly (78′)

Attendance: 786

AthloneTownAFC.ie Man of The Match: Dylan Hand

SSE Airtricity League Men’s First Division: Athlone Town AFC v Kerry FC

Date: March 8th, 2024

Kick-off: 7.45pm

Venue: Athlone Town Stadium

Can Kerry repeat what they done last May and add to their solitary victory in Senior Football? Conor McCarty will hope so.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of this week’s match.

Kerry were very impressive on Monday against Treaty United and were victorious, running out 4-1 winners in the Munster Senior Cup. They have really strengthened in the off season and will be a lot more difficult to defeat this season.

Athlone have played well against Wexford but struggled on the road in the last couple of weeks. They will hope to get back to winning ways after finding themselves sliding down the table in recent weeks.

Team News

Athlone Town AFC will be without Jamar Campion Hinds who is still sidelined with an injury. Noah Van Geenen was substituted at half time in Finn Park but that was tactical and is available for selection. Ruben Candal is nearing match fitness and may be due to start this week.

Kerry FC will be without Valerii Dolia who is yet to make his debut, but Jack Kavanagh is expected to return. Nathan Gleeson is available following a one-match suspension for his red card against Bray Wanderers.

Past Encounters

On May 12th last year, Kerry FC picked up their first-ever win in League of Ireland history by beating Athlone. It was no fluke and Kerry were great value for their win last season.

Key Players to Watch

Athlone Town AFC, Dean Ebbe has been enjoyed a great start to his return season with Athlone. He will hope to continue his good form and help Athlone return to winning ways.

Kerry FC forward Victor Udeze has been excellent since moving to the Kingdom and Athlone Town defence will have their hands full with the quick striker.

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

Referee Team
Referee: Ian O’Keeffe
1st Assistant Referee: Michelle O’Neill
2nd Assistant Referee: Ryan Maher
4th Official: Daryl Carolan

Harps Find Success

Athlone continue to find the trip to Finn Park a tricky fixture. With a lot of games falling foul of the weather it will be the Harps fans who will be the happier with how this game played out.

Both teams certainly have an attractive style of play and Athlone being positive were trying to play out from the back. Enda Minogue played the ball to Dylan Hand who was immediately pressed by Success Edgon just outside the 18-yard box. Hand looked for Aaron Connolly near the half line, but the Finn Harps press was very good, and they nicked the ball back. The interception found its was to Edgon who crossed from the right first time to find Stephen Doherty in space who turned the ball home.

Finn Harps thought they doubled their lead in the 28^th minute following a cross from the right-hand side saw a mix up between Fuentes Rodriguez and Minogue in goal but the ball was cleared off the line much to the relief of the Athlone back line. Van Geenen thought had had Athlone level in the 37^th minute when at the back post he was found by a Dylan Hand flick on but he shot narrowly over.

Just before the half time whistle Harps did double their lead. From a Tony McNamee free kick on the right-hand side, he floated a ball into Jamie Watson whose miss control fell kindly to an unmarked Edgon who drilled the ball home from 12 yards out to make it 2-0.

Athlone started the Second half brightly and in the 50^th minute substitute Gideon Tetteh found a bit of space on the right-hand side and showed great feet to dig out a cross and found Connolly in the box whose header hit the bar and went over.

On the 83^rd minute, a long ball by German Fuentes Rodriguez over the top gave Dean Ebbe something to chase and with the ball there to be won he slide but collided with Harps keeper Tim-Oliver Hiemer and the referee duly showed him a yellow card. Harps managed the second half well and held on for the clean sheet and three points.

Athlone will be happy with their second half performance but will be looking at 5 points dropped rather than 4 points gained this campaign.

Following match day three this result drops Athlone to fourth and propels Harps to second in the table.

Athlone Town AFC: Enda Minogue, German Fuentes Rodriguez, Jarlath Jones (Oisin Duffy 56’), Noah van Geenen (Gideon Tette 45’), Daniel McKenna (Ruban Candal 86’), Dylan Hand, Aaron Connolly (C), Dean Ebbe, Carl Mujaguzi, Amardo Oakley, Jamal Ibrahim (Dylan Gavin 56’)            

Unused Substitutes: Andrew Stuart Trainor, Shane Forbes, Brian Torre, Matthew Leal, Abdul Barrie

Bookings: Jones (42′), van Geenen (45′), Ebbe (85′) Fuentes Rodriguez (98′)

Attendance: 1,527

AthloneTownAFC.ie Man of The Match: Gideon Tetteh

SSE Airtricity League Men’s First Division: Finn Harps v Athlone Town AFC

Date: March 1st, 2024

Kick-off: 7.45pm

Venue: Finn Park, Ballybofey, Co. Donegal

Both teams started the campaign with a win and a draw and will be hoping to keep the momentum going. With the kick-off scheduled for 7.45pm, both teams are looking to add to their early season tally.

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

Finn Harps had a great comeback in Longford two weeks ago to get their first win of the season and a draw with Cork City last weekend sees them on 4 points. Harps fans will be disappointed with how last season concluded but hopeful they can get into the promotion race this year. Luke O’Brien joined on loan from St. Pats and added to a much-changed Harps this season.

Athlone have had two great first half performances in the games this season but struggled in the second half against Cobh. Athlone understand Finn Park is a difficult place to come out of with any points but are hopeful the front three will continue to excite and cause problems for teams.

Dario Castelo stated, “While we got a point on the road our team are disappointed with didn’t get three points and it shows the ambition of the squad we have put together. We have played very well going forward, I want to see more of the same.”

Team News

Athlone Town AFC will be without Jamar Campion Hinds who is still sidelined with an injury.

Past Encounters

Athlone Town’s two visits to Finn Park last season consisted of a 4-1 win and a 4-1 loss so who’s to know what the score will be tomorrow.

Key Players to Watch

For Athlone Town AFC, Dylan Hand has been supurb so far since returning to the club and will hope to continue his good form after getting a goal for himself last weekend.

Finn Harps forward Success Edogun who is well known to Athlone Town fans has developed really well since he left Athlone and will be hoping to continue with his goal a game return this season.

Match Tickets
Tickets for the game can be purchased here.

Referee Team
Referee: Daniel Murphy
1st Assistant Referee: Darren Corcoran
2nd Assistant Referee: Keenan Deering
4th Official: Michael Connolly

Cobh Comeback Clinches Draw

The match truly was a game of two halves, with Athlone shining brighter initially. Athlone looked dangerous on the attack and found the front 25 minutes in. Following Jarlath Jones’s throw-in, Jamal Ibrahim carved out space on the left wing, delivering a cross that Dean Ebbe expertly headed home who rose highest in the six-yard box and his header found the back of the net.

Athlone continued to create lots of openings and in the 32^nd minute following a cleared corner the ball was retrieved on the left-hand side by Noah Van Geenen who momentarily forgot he was a centre back, turned exquisitely and floated a ball into the box to find Dylan Hand who with a powerful header smashed the ball off the cross bar and in to go two goals to the good.

As the second half began, deteriorating weather worsened playing conditions, coinciding with a marked improvement in Cobh’s performance. From a corner on the left hand side the ball missed everyone and substitute Nolan Evers found himself at the back post and turned the ball in to get Cobh back into the game.      

Just past the hour Aaron Connolly, seizing the ball in Cobh’s half, charged at the defence. From about 20 yards out, he outwitted a defender with a clever dummy before curving a stunning shot past an outstretched Darragh Burke who couldn’t do much about the strike. Athlone restored the two-goal lead.

Athlone probably thought at this stage they had done enough but Cobh had different ideas and The Town were under massive pressure. Around the 70^th minute mark, Dale Holland from about 20 yards out hit a wonderful strike along the ground past Enda Minogue in the Athlone Goal and it was game on.

In the 77th minute, following a contentious corner, Cobh’s relentless pressure paid off. The cross found its way through a crowded box to David Bosnjak, who clinched the equalizer from 12 yards out to complete the comeback and earn a share of the points for Cobh Ramblers on their first league home game away from home.

Athlone will rue missing out on three points after dominating the first half.

Following match day two, this result drops Athlone to second and propels Cobh to sixth in the table.

Athlone Town AFC: Enda Minogue, German Fuentes Rodriguez (Gideon Tetteh 88’), Jarlath Jones, Noah van Geenen, Daniel McKenna, Dylan Hand, Aaron Connolly (C), Dean Ebbe, Carl Mujaguzi (Divine Izekor 70′) (Dylan Gavin 88’), Amardo Oakley, Jamal Ibrahim (Brian Torre 54′)              

Unused Substitutes: Andrew Stuart Trainor, Ruban Candal, Shane Forbes, Oisin Duffy, Matthew Leal

Bookings: McKenna (76), Izekor (88)

Attendance: 367

AthloneTownAFC.ie Man of The Match: Aaron Connolly

SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division: Cobh Ramblers v Athlone Town AFC

Date: February 23rd, 2024

Kick-off: 7.45pm

Venue: Turner’s Cross, Cork

Following on from an opening weekend win for Athlone they make the “shortened” trip to Cork for the first away trip of the season. St Colman’s Park is having a new pitch laid so Cobh will play their games in Cork City for the foreseeable. With the kick-off scheduled for 7.45pm, both teams are looking to start their campaign on a high note.

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

Cobh played Treaty last weekend and found themselves 1-0 down at half time. They battled back at the beginning of the second half and got themselves back into the game with Mathew McKevitt getting an equaliser, but Treaty had enough to run out 3-1 winners in the end.

Athlone hosted Wexford and an excellent first half performance saw them go in at the break 3-0 in front. They held on in the second half and got the clean sheet with the game finishing 3-0

Dario Castelo stated, “It was great to get the win and get going. For us the hard work continues.”

Team News

Athlone Town AFC have a couple of injury concerns, with Jamar Campion Hinds still sidelined with injury and Ruben Candal returned to training this week but is ruled out for the trip to Cork. Loan signing Gideon Tetteh is hoping to make his first appearance for the club after joining from Shamrock Rovers initially until June 30^th.

Cobh Ramblers, lost some of their key players from last season but have a strong squad still having done good business in the off-season. They can look forward to the game with a clean bill of health and no suspensions.

Past Encounters

Athlone Town and Cobh played each other four times last season in a what were closely contested encounters. Cobh got the upper hand in the end with Athlone winning the first and Cobh winning the last two games. Both teams exited the playoffs at the first hurdle last season and will have ambitions to go further this season.

Key Players to Watch

For Athlone Town AFC, Daniel McKenna covered every blade of grass last week and was rightfully given man of the match. His distribution gets Athlone on the move quickly and we hope to see more of the same this weekend.

Cobh Ramblers will be delighted to have seen Matthew McKevitt get on the score sheet last week. The 25 year old Tipperary navtive will be a handful for the Athlone centre half’s to deal with.

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

Referee Team
Referee: Alan Patchell
1st Assistant Referee: Eoin Harte
2nd Assistant Referee: Ciaran O’Reilly
4th Official: John Sconnie Walsh