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

Weeks after the 2023 season has come to an end, preparations for the 2024 season are already underway. Here is a brief review on all of our current squad’s to date:

We will be making a couple more signings and re-signings in the coming weeks in the build-up to the new season, so make sure to keep an eye out on our website and social media channels!

Season tickets for next season can be purchased by clicking here.

LOITV season passes can be purchased by clicking here.

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

Athlone Town Begin Season With A Bang

In what was a damp night in Athlone Town Stadium, Athlone Town turned in a wonderful performance on the season opener. Athlone Town started the brighter of the two teams and had a lot of the possession in the early goings. Aaron Connolly captained ‘The Town’ and the fans were treated to a new look front three. Dean Ebbe retuned to the club and Jamal Ibrahim and Amardo Oakley made debuts.

Athlone created lots of openings in the first half and found themselves in front after 14 minutes when Noah van Geenen coolly side footed home the opener from a corner. It was all Athlone in the opening minutes and Dean Ebbe looked to get onto a long ball over the top and he was fouled just outside the area by Wexford Goalkeeper Owen Mason. He was booked by referee Chris Sheehan. From the resulting freekick Aaron Connolly tested Owen Mason who got down well to stop a great strike but Ibrahim reacted the quickest and was able to slot home from six yards to put Athlone 2-0 up.

Wexford started to grow into the game a bit and Mikie Rowe found himself with time to take the ball on his chest inside the Athlone Box but his shot was well over and didn’t trouble Enda Minogue in the Athlone Goal. Athlone played well with getting quick ball from the back to the front and Dean Ebbe laid off a good ball to Carl Mujaguzi and he found Ibrahim on the left who had lots of space to run into the box and shot low and again Mason got down well to stop the strike only to parry it to Oakley who dispatched it well to put ‘The Town’ 3 goals up.

The second half wasn’t as entertaining as the first but both teams created chances. Athlone will be happy to have kept a clean sheet and get 3 points on the board.

Athlone Town AFC: Enda Minogue, German Fuentes Rodriguez, Jarlath Jones (Shane Forbes 87’), Noah van Geenen, Daniel McKenna, Dylan Hand, Aaron Connolly (C), Dean Ebbe (Divine Izekor 70′), Carl Mujaguzi (Oisin Duffy 87’), Amardo Oakley, Jamal Ibrahim (Brian Torre 68′)

Unused Substitutes: Andrew Stuart Trainor, Dylan Gavin, Gabriel Padilla, Matthew Leal, Gideon Tetteh               

Bookings: Jones (80)

Attendance: 824

www.AthloneTownAFC.ie Man of The Match: Daniel McKenna

Head-To-Head stats after last night’s game:

Meetings: 55 | Athlone Wins: 27 | Draws: 7 | Wexford Wins: 21

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

Date: February 16th, 2024

Kick-off: 7.45pm

Venue: Athlone Town Stadium

As the excitement builds up for the season opener between Athlone Town AFC and Wexford FC, we are eager to see how this encounter unfolds at the Athlone Town Stadium. 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.

Dario Castelo stated, “It’s great to finally get going and we are happy to begin at home”. “For us it is important to put everything into practice that we worked on in preseason. The team are looking forward to it” he added.

Team News

Athlone Town AFC enter this season with high hopes and a refreshed squad. During the off-season, we’ve made several signings in key positions to bolster our ranks, aiming to improve on last year’s playoff place. The team has had a good pre-season, getting much needed minutes into players in friendly matches. However, there are a couple of injury concerns, with Jamar Campion Hinds still sidelined with injury and Ruben Candal a doubt for the opening match.

Wexford FC, on the other hand, has also been active in the transfer market, bringing in young talents and experienced players to enhance their squad depth. Their fans would have been delighted to have secured the core of last year’s squad that achieved a fourth place finish last season. A familiar face to Athlone Town Fans Thomas Oluwa signs on a permanent deal. Wexford are likely to be without Cian O’Malley who has missed most of pre-season through injury.

Past Encounters

Athlone Town and Wexford FC have had a number of closely contested encounters in the past seasons, with the teams playing four times last season and both teams winning two of their games. Historically, matches between these two have been unpredictable, offering plenty of excitement and lots of goals. With both teams looking stronger and more ambitious this season, this opening game is expected to be no different.

Key Players to Watch

For Athlone Town AFC, much will depend on their new signings, especially the attacking players who have impressed in pre-season games. But key for Athlone will be central defender, Dylan Hand who returned to the club after eighteen-month spell away and will be crucial in organising the backline and keeping Wexford’s attackers at bay.

Wexford FC will rely on Wexford native Mikie Rowe, who joined from Galway United. He will be under the spotlight, and we expect him to bring goals to the impressive front line of Wexford.

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

Referee Team
Referee Chris Sheehan
1st Assistant Referee: Conor Harkin
2nd Assistant Referee: Sean Stephens
4th Official: Mark Moynihan