The Athlone Town Under-19s capped a remarkable season by winning the Tier 1 League, finishing ahead of Shelbourne FC by a 4-point margin.

Over the course of the season, the team played ten matches, winning six, drawing two, and losing two. The squad’s attacking prowess was clear, with a total of 26 goals scored, while their defence remained resolute, conceding only ten goals.

Shelbourne managed to overcome Athlone in the cup final, taking a narrow 3-2 victory, but Athlone Town’s consistency across the season was enough to secure the league title.

Season Highlights

The season began on a high note with a commanding 6-2 victory over Shelbourne, with Hazel leading the charge with two goals, with the other goals from Emma, Brenda, Mary, and Emily.

A 3-1 away win against Wexford followed, where Hazel found the net twice alongside a goal from Olivia.

Athlone continued their winning streak by defeating Cork City 4-0, thanks to goals from Hazel, Muireann, TJ, and Olivia.

The team faced a tough 1-0 defeat to Shamrock Rovers in their fourth game.

The team bounced back with a 2-0 home victory against Bohemians, with goals from Hazel and Aoife MOC.

A pivotal moment in the season came during the 1-1 draw against Shelbourne away. Missing five players due to their involvement with the senior squad, the team delivered a tenacious performance. Despite Shelbourne’s strong defence, Athlone’s resilience earned them a crucial point that proved decisive in the title race.

In the following matches, Athlone drew 2-2 with Wexford at home, Hazel again scoring twice.

Then, triumphed with a 4-0 away win against Cork City, with Hazel, Aoife MOC, and Muireann adding to the scoreline.

The penultimate game against Shamrock Rovers saw Athlone secure the title in style with a 4-0 home win. Hazel recorded a hat-trick, and Maeve contributed the fourth goal, ensuring the league crown was theirs.

Unfortunately, the final game of the season against Bohemians was not played due to player absences with international duties; the match was awarded to Bohemians as a 3-0 result.

Team and Individual Achievements

Captain Lucy FitzGerald proudly accepted the trophy on behalf of the team, a testament to the dedication and spirit of each player who contributed to the league-winning campaign.

Hazel was a standout performer and the top goal-scorer of the season, with a remarkable tally of 43 goals across competitions: 37 for the Under-19s, 4 for the Under-17s, and 2 for the senior squad.

A special mention goes to Olivia Kilcackey, who finally achieved her well-deserved goal medal with the club, marking a memorable moment in her journey with Athlone Town.

Congratulations to all players and coaching staff for an outstanding season and for bringing the Tier 1 League title home to Athlone Town!

LOI Academy Players of the Month – April 2024

Athlone Town AFC are delighted to announce that we will be holding trials shortly for players born in 2011 for the upcoming league of Ireland Season
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Anthony Fay’s EA Sports LOI Academy Women U17’s team have had an incredible start to their season, winning their first seven games.

This fantastic run adds to the three wins The Town had at the end of last season meaning they have now had ten consecutive wins between both seasons.

Within the last two seasons, Athlone have only suffered three defeats and finished second in the league just three points behind Shelbourne, who beat Athlone in the Cup Final.

The Black and Blue currently sit top of Group B with twenty five goals scored in those seven games.

All LOI Academy league tables can be found on FAI Connect.

Maeve Wollmer, who scored three goals and assisted two back in April, received a call-up to the Ireland Women’s U16 team and scored an unbelievable goal in a friendly against Denmark, where she also scored the winning goal in the peanlty shootout.

Here are The Town’s goalscorers from the first seven games:

Maeve Wollmer (5)

Muireann Daly (4)

Lucy Fitzgerald (4)

Holly Murphy (4)

Emma Mooney (2)

Roisin Bradley (2)

Alison Nugent (1)

Ruby Phelan (1)

Niamh Niland (1)

Danielle O’Neill (1)

You can track all of the team’s fixtures and results here.

Anthony Fay’s side have had the best start possible to their EA Sports WU19 campaign.

The Town have played four games, won four, scored ten goals and conceded none. The wins so far have come against Galway United, DLR Waves, Shamrock Rovers (who won were last year’s unbeaten league winners) and Sligo Rovers. They currently sit top of their group after four games and will be hoping to carry their excellent form into their remaining games.

All LOI Academy league tables can be found on FAI Connect.

Their results haven’t gone unnoticed as Mary Philips and Hazel Donegan both received call-ups recently to the Ireland Women’s Under-19 squad for their upcoming UEFA Round 2 Euro Qualifiers against Iceland, Austria and Croatia next month.

Mary was named LOI Academy Women’s U17 Player of the Year last season and has been involved in the senior setup over the last year.

Hazel scored more than 40 goals last season between the LOI Academy WU17 and WU19 teams as well as 2 goals for the Senior Women’s side in the Women’s Premier Division during the 2023 campaign.

Aoife Murphy-O’Connor and Isabel Ryan have also had call-ups to the National squad in recent times, as well as Lucy Fitzgerald who made her Ireland Women’s Under-17 debut against South Korea earlier this year.

The team earn a well earned break after the opening rounds of games. They will play Bray Wanderers at home on Sunday, April 14th when they return to action.

Here are The Town’s goalscorers from the first four games:

Hazel Donegan (6)

Roisin Molloy (2)

Aoife Murphy-O’Connor (1)

Michelle Muddiman (1)

Julia Gawalkiewicz was the keeper between the sticks for those first four games and she is yet to concede a goal in this current campaign.

You can track all of the team’s fixtures and results here.

Athlone Town AFC is proud to announce the expansion of its Youth Academy, introducing a comprehensive training and competition program for young football enthusiasts aged 6 to 14 years, set to commence in the coming weeks.

The Athlone Town AFC Training Academy is a ground-breaking initiative designed to nurture the future stars of the beautiful game, providing a platform for young talents to develop their skills, technique, and tactical prowess while fostering a deep passion for football.

The Athlone Town AFC Training Academy comprises two distinct programs tailored to the specific needs and age groups of young players:

• The Junior Academy – Catering to players aged 6 to 10, this program lays the foundation for budding football stars, instilling essential skills and techniques from an early age.
• The Pre-Academy – Aimed at players aged 11 to 14, this program offers a more advanced training curriculum to refine their abilities and prepare them for the challenges of competitive football.

For more information, click here.

Aspiring players can choose between full-time and part-time options to accommodate their schedules and ambitions:

• Full-time – The Club Teams program, spanning 10 months, immerses players in a dedicated football environment, providing extensive training and development opportunities.
• Part-time – The Clinics and Camps program, running for 1 month, offers players the flexibility to enhance their skills during specific periods of the year.

For more information, click here.

The Athlone Town AFC Training Academy distinguishes itself with a comprehensive set of features:

• Technical Training: A focus on skill, creativity, and technique enhancement.
• Tactical Training: Spatial awareness and game intelligence development.
• Speed, Strength, and Agility Training: Targeting quickness, reaction abilities, and injury prevention.
• Professional Coaching: Expert coaches and mentors dedicated to guiding player development.
• Holistic Approach: Emphasis on life skills such as respect, discipline, teamwork, commitment, and hard work.
• Competitive Opportunities: Participation in regional leagues, as well as national and international tournaments.
• Limited Class Sizes: To ensure personalized attention and coaching excellence, each class accommodates a maximum of 30 players.

The Athlone Town Stadium Complex, situated in Athlone, Co. Westmeath, will serve as the vibrant hub for this innovative academy, providing world-class facilities and a conducive learning environment.

To signify your interest in embarking on a path towards footballing excellence, click here. If you have any queries, please contact us at admin@athlonetownafc.ie

Powered by Valeo Futbol, the Athlone Town AFC Training Academy represents a significant milestone in the development of young football talent in the Midlands and beyond. We look forward to nurturing the next generation of football stars and shaping a brighter future for the beautiful game.