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Next Senior Women's Match: Sat,July 13th (A) crest
Next Senior Men's Match: Fri, July 19th (H) crest

Women’s Match Report: Sligo Rovers (A)

Written by Admin on . Posted in News, Women's.

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

Men’s Match Report: UCD (H)

Written by Admin on . Posted in Men's, News.

Athlone Extend Unbeaten Home Run with Draw

UCD were the visitors on the 24th of May 2024 playing out a 2-2 draw in Athlone Town Stadium.

Dario named an unchanged side from the team that drew with Longford. Ruban Candal returned to the bench having missed out last week due to injury.

Athlone started brightly and we didn’t have to wait long for the first goal, Athlone were playing out from the back and Oisin Duffy found Amardo Oakley on the right-hand side, he cut the ball back inside to Carl Mujaguzi. His short pass was into the feet of Dean Ebbe who was at the edge of the area. He played back to Mujaguzi who chipped it towards the far post finding Gideon Tetteh who made no mistake from a tight angle. The hosts were one nil up.

Brian Torre had Athlone hearts in their mouths in the 16th minute when he got his head to a UCD cross, and it just missed the Athlone goal and went out for a corner but after the game Brian said to AthloneTownAFC.ie that he knew what he was doing.

Athlone lead was doubled in the 20th minute when Torre played the ball down the line to Tetteh who, with a world class bit of skill, let the ball hit his foot and it skipped over Ronan Finn and into space for Tetteh to run onto he ran into the box and took his time and pulled a ball back to Aaron Connolly, his placed shot took a deflection but ended up in the back of the net. 2-0 to the hosts.

In the 25th minute the Students got one back, Ronan Finn was in possession on the right-hand side, he played the ball inside to Behan who played the ball across to Jake Doyle. Doyle fashioned some space and got the shot away just inside the box, Enda Minogue made a brilliant save down to his right but to his horror his save fell to the feet of Michael McCullagh who reacted quicker than the Athlone defence and slotted home from 2 yards to pull the score back to 2-1.

From a corner shortly after the goal, a deep cross to the back post was won by Michael McCullagh who got his shot towards the goal but never really threatened.

UCD were really coming into the game and in the 27th minute a Ciaran Behan effort from about 25 yards rattled the crossbar, a great effort from Behan. The students were really starting to show their quality.

Just before the break, Finn found Behan just inside the box and he crossed low after taking on Dylan Hand but it was intercepted by German and Athlone managed to clear the ball.

Athlone started the brighter of the two teams, but UCD grew into the game as it went on, but it was the hosts that lead at the break 2-1.

UCD weren’t in the mood to wait around for the second half they were out seven minutes before Athlone and the Referees. The second half started as the first half finished with UCD holding possession but the first real chance of the second half went to Athlone when the ball broke to the right-hand side. Amardo Oakley ran at the UCD defence, he went down the line and found his way to the end line but was marshalled out of play by Sean Brennan.

We had to wait for the 72nd minute for UCD’s first real shot of the second half. They were enjoying a lot of possession but getting it hard to break down the Athlone defence. Sean Brennan played a brilliant ball forward behind the Athlone defence with two UCD players there. Both Paker and Raggett bearing down on goal, Raggett got the shot away and it clipped the outside post – a real let off for Athlone, but it was all UCD so far in the second half.

We didn’t have to wait long after that for UCD to equalise, in the 79th minute. A Donal Higgins free kick just inside the Athlone half was floated to the back of the box. It was cleared by German but only as far as Michael McCullagh who clipped the ball to the back post, and it was headed home by Raggett who climbed higher than the Athlone defender.

Things boiled over in the 85th minute when a UCD corner was caught by Enda Minogue but he was fouled by Eanna Clancy and the referee gave a free out. Clancy protested with Minogue and there was a bit of a shemozzle in the box and a couple of yellow cards later we got back under way.

Athlone finished the stronger of the two teams and had a chance to win the game in 93rd minute Brian Torre done brilliantly on the left wing and got into the box. He stabbed at the ball but couldn’t direct his shot goalward. That was all and it was points shared 2-2.

Following match day seventeen sees Athlone stay third on twenty-seven points and UCD stay second on twenty-nine points.

Unfortunately for Athlone, Daniel McKenna picked up a 5th yellow card to rule him out of the Cork Game. Athlone extend their unbeaten run to eight games and remain unbeaten at home this season.

Athlone Town AFC: Enda Minogue, German Fuentes Rodriguez, Daniel McKenna, Dylan Hand, Aaron Connolly, Dean Ebbe, Carl Mujaguzi (Matthew Leal 45’), Amardo Oakley (Jamar Campion-Hinds 77’), Oisin Duffy ©, Brian Torre, Gideon Tetteh (Ruben Candal 88’)

Unused Substitutes: Andrew Stuart Trainor, Jarlath Jones, Noah Van Geenen, Gabriel Padilla, Divine Izekor, Roscoe Rubinstein

Bookings: Connolly (68), McKenna (77), Roderiguez (87), Hand (87)

Attendance: 541

AthloneTownAFC.ie Man of The Match: Gideon Tetteh

Women’s Match Preview: Sligo Rovers (A)

Written by Admin on . Posted in News, Women's.

Date: 25th of May 2024
Kick-off: 7pm
Venue: The Showgrounds

Athlone Town AFC return to Women’s Premier Division action tomorrow night, Sligo Rovers are the hosts as Athlone Town make the trip to the Showgrounds.

Athlone have put together a run-in recent games and find themselves third in the table. With last weekends cup action out of the way all eyes return to the league.

Ciaran Kilduff stated, “Another tough test against a good team, we had a good battle with them in the All-Island cup and we expect the same this week.”

Team News

Athlone Town AFC come into the game with a couple of injury concerns. Ciara Glackin is ruled out and Kayleigh Shine is a doubt.

Past Encounters
Athlone Town and Sligo have had some entertaining games. This will be the eighth meeting between the two clubs. This is the last game before the international break.

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.

For Sligo Rovers Kelsey Monroe is a player well known to Athlone fans, she always gave it her all when playing for Athlone and was a league and cup runner up with the club two years ago. She has a wand of a left foot and is very dangerous from set pieces.

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

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.

SLIGO ROVERS V ATHLONE TOWN (loitv.ie)

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

Referee Team
Referee: Alan Patchell
1st Assistant Referee: Paudie Hayes
2nd Assistant Referee: Thomas Joyce
4th Official: Emmett Dynan

Men’s Match Preview: UCD (H)

Written by Admin on . Posted in Men's, News.

Date: 24th 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 three of their last five fixtures. Athlone’s last defeat came at the hands of Bray Wanderers, but the draw in Longford left a sour taste after creating the better of the chances.

Athlone town are the in-form team behind Cork and they sit in third place on twenty-six points. UCD battered Athlone in the reverse fixture and come into the game just behind Athlone in the form table but ahead in the standings they sit second on twenty-eight points. While Cork City sit way out in front, this is a must win game for both teams.

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

“We are not happy after the last game. We created enough chances but didn’t kill the game off. We have a very important but difficult game this week. We must continue to work hard for each other and this special club.”

Team News

Athlone Town AFC have a couple of injury concerns, Ruben Candal sat out last week and is back in training. Noah Van Geenen is being eased back to play.

Past Encounters
UCD haven’t lost to Athlone since 2015 when Athlone beat them 2-1 having been relegated back to the first division. Philly Gorman scored a brace on the day that included a late winner in the 93rd minute.

Key Players to Watch

For Athlone Town AFC, Dan McKenna has been an integral part of this team, he brings out the best in players around him and enjoys breaking up play. He loves a tackle and has made over 55 appearances for the club.

UCD Ciaran Behan scored in the reverse fixture and he has six goals already this season which is an excellent return for young midfielder.

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 UCD (loitv.ie)

Referee Team
Referee: Daniel Murphy   
1st Assistant Referee: Emmett Dynan 
2nd Assistant Referee: Darren Corcoran
4th Official: Damien MacGraith

Men’s Match Report: Longford Town (A)

Written by Admin on . Posted in Men's, News.

Athlone made the short trip to Longford on the 18th of May 2024 playing out a 1-1 draw against Longford.

Dario made three changes to the team that beat Bray with German Fuentes Rodriguez and Aaron Connolly returning after suspension, and Oisin Duffy who was struggling with injuries in recent weeks returning to captain the side.

Both teams started well and enjoyed spells of possession. Athlone created the first real chance of the game when in the 10th minute, Ross Fay was caught in possession by Gideon Tetteh who played a lovely pass to Dean Ebbe who had a bit of time and space and he turned well but his shot was always going over the bar.

Athlone had another shot shortly after when an Enda Minogue clearance was flicked on by Ebbe to Amardo Oakley who ran at goal but his shot was narrowly over.

Longford were next to test the Athlone Defence when from a Conor Crowley free kick out on the right-hand side his cross found the head of Francis Campbell who had a lot of work to do but couldn’t his shot on target, going narrowly past the post. It was a quiet enough first half and we went in at the break scoreless.

Longford started the second half as the brighter of the two teams, they enjoyed a spell of possession which saw Shane Elworthy run at the Athlone defence and his scooped pass over the defence found Jordan Adeyemo but his header was on target but lacked the power to threaten Enda Minogue’s goal.

In the 55th minute Athlone had a throw-in just inside the Longford half, Torre found Dylan Hand, who played it out wide to captain Oisin Duffy. His forward ball found Oakley who turned brilliantly, and made his way into the Longford Town box, he cut the ball back to Gideon Tetteh who’s placed shot wrong footed Jack Brady to put the visitors 1-0 up.

Brian Torre had a corner from the right in the 63rd minute. His cross wasn’t fully cleared by the Longford defence and Dylan Hand found Carl Mujaguzi, but his header was narrowly over. Fair play to the young Longford fan who was keeping Torre company and the crowd entertained with his antics.

It could have been two nil in the 68th minute when a poor clearance by Brady in the Longford goal was only as far as Mujaguzi who crossed deep to Aaron Connolly who headed back across goal to Ebbe who laid it off to Tetteh who shot low from 12 yards but Brady made up for his mistake with a wonderful save down low to his right to keep the score 1-0.
Oisin Hand somehow in the 88th minute stopped Jamal Ibrahim scoring when he headed the ball off the line, Athlone would come to regret not being able to finish these chances, as Longford went down the other end of the pitch and equalised.

Guilherme Rego Priosti chipped a ball to the left-hand side of the box and Dean O Shea headed the ball across the goal to Emmanuel James who made no mistake from 6 yards. It was a real hammer blow for Athlone who had done enough to take home the three points. It finished 1-1 and a point a piece for both teams.

Following match day fourteen sees Athlone stay third on twenty-six points and Longford stay ninth on eleven points.

Athlone Town AFC: Enda Minogue, German Fuentes Rodriguez, Daniel McKenna, Dylan Hand, Aaron Connolly, Dean Ebbe, Carl Mujaguzi (Matthew Leal 79’), Amardo Oakley (Jamar Campion-Hinds 67’), Oisin Duffy ©, Brian Torre (Jarlath Jones 92’), Gideon Tetteh (Jamal Ibrahim 79’)

Unused Substitutes: Andrew Stuart Trainor, Noah Van Geenen, Divine Izekor, Roscoe Rubinstein, Ciaran Nolan

Bookings: McKenna (91)

Attendance: 450

AthloneTownAFC.ie Man of The Match: Gideon Tetteh

Athlone Town AFC players recognised as Ireland’s first ever Internationals

Written by Admin on . Posted in News.

The Football Association of Ireland will now formally recognise the 1924 Ireland fixtures, including the 1924 Olympic Games matches in Paris, as the first-ever official senior international men’s matches following re-classification and approval from the FAI Board. This squad included five Athlone Town AFC players – John Joe Dykes, Frank Ghent, Dinny Hannon, Tommy Muldoon and Paddy O’Reilly.

The 1924 Olympics Games’ football tournament saw the FAI field a men’s national side for the first time and these matches were initially considered senior international fixtures until FIFA re-classified them as amateur matches in the 1960s. In 1999, FIFA communicated to all respective associations who competed in the 1924 Olympic Games that they can self-determine the reclassification of the matches.

Following extensive historical research undertaken by a committee including Gary Spain, Tadhg Carey, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD, Paul Lennon and Gerry Farrell, a proposal was put forward to the FAI board to re-classify these matches, which covers the two games played in the Olympic Tournament vs Bulgaria and the Netherlands, and the subsequent friendlies against Estonia and the USA.

The proposal was approved last month and as a result, these matches will be formally recognised by the association at an event on Monday, May 27 and at the Ireland v Hungary match at the Aviva
Stadium on Tuesday, June 4 with the relatives of the 1924 players, who’ve been tracked down by the committee, to be invited to celebrate their forefathers achievements.

The re-classification of these four matches in 1924 means the Ireland v Bulgaria match at Stade Olympique, Colombes, where Paddy Duncan scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win, is now formally recognised as Ireland’s first-ever international match and all historical records should now reflect the inclusion of the fixtures in 1924.

“This is a huge day in the history of the Football Association of Ireland and a proud moment as we formally re-classify and recognise the achievements of the 1924 side,” said FAI President Paul Cooke.
“Firstly, I want to thank and congratulate the committee of Gary, Paul, Tadhg, Aodhán and Gerry for all of the incredible research and work which went into the proposal. Their tireless efforts has led to
the recognition and reclassification of these matches which means the living relatives of the players will be able to join us to formally celebrate their achievements.

“To be able to pass this motion 100 years after the matches and in the same year as the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris gives the Association a great opportunity to recognise the importance these matches have in our shared history and a valued addition to the Irish footballing tradition.”

“This year’s Olympic Games in Paris marks our centenary, 100 years since Team Ireland was first represented on the international stage, also in Paris, in 1924,” said Olympic Federation of Ireland
CEO Peter Sherrard.

“Of the 48 athletes, artists, and poets who participated in 1924 for Team Ireland, it was our Olympian footballers who did so first, competing against Bulgaria on 28 May, 1924, and winning 1-0 thanks to a goal from Paddy Duncan of St James’ Gate. This opening Game happened many weeks
prior to the official opening of the Games on 5 July 1924 and had come following months of fundraising initiatives by the FAIFS to send the players to the Games, including proceeds from a match against Celtic and contributions from Bohemians, St James Gate, Athlone Town, Shelbourne,
and Shamrock Rovers. The players who participated are forever recognised as Irish Olympians and deserve fully to be recognised as having participated in the FAI’s first international football match as
well.

“I congratulate the Football Association of Ireland for approving this initiative in this special centenary year and in particular, Gary Spain, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD, Paul Lennon, Gerry Farrell and Tadgh Carey for their work in preparing the proposal.”

“I am delighted to see these pioneers of Irish football honoured on the centenary of these games,” said committee member and football historian Gary Spain.

“These men played at a time when football did not have the rewards or the recognition it has today. The efforts they made laid the foundation for those that came after them. It is great that their story
is being told to a new generation of Irish football.”

“The players from the Paris Olympics of 1924 were true trailblazers of Irish sport,” said committee member Tadhg Carey.

“They were both Ireland’s first full international football side and the first Olympians to compete in a sporting arena representing Team Ireland. It is fitting that they are being recognised and these
games reclassified as senior internationals. It restores these footballers to their rightful place in the history books.”

IRELAND 1924 PLAYERS AND CLUBS

ATHLONE TOWN
John Joe Dykes
Frank Ghent
Dinny Hannon
Tommy Muldoon
Paddy O’Reilly

BOHEMIAN FC
Ned Brooks
Bertie Kerr
Jack McCarthy
Johnny Murray
Christy Robinson
John Thomas

BROOKLYN
Joe Kendrick
Tony Hunston

JACOBS
Frank Collins

ST. JAMES’ GATE
Charlie Dowdall
Paddy Duncan
Mick Farrell
Ernie MacKay
Tommy Murphy

TRAINER
Charlie Harris (Bohemian FC)

IRELAND 1924 MATCHES

Wednesday, May 28 | Stade Olympique de Colombes – Olympic Games Second Round

IRELAND 1 (Duncan 75) BULGARIA 0
Ireland: Paddy O’Reilly; Bertie Kerr, Jack McCarthy; Ernie MacKay, John Joe Dykes, Tommy Muldoon; Mickey Farrell, Dinny Hannon, Paddy Duncan, Joe Kendrick, Johnny Murray. Coach: Charlie Harris.

Att: 1,659.
Referee: A Henriot (France).

Monday, June 2 | Stade de Paris – Olympic Games Quarter-final

IRELAND 1 (Ghent 33) NETHERLANDS 2 (Formenoy 7, 104) (AET)
Ireland: Paddy O’Reilly; Bertie Kerr, Jack McCarthy; Ernie MacKay, John Joe Dykes, Tommy Muldoon; Mickey Farrell, Dinny Hannon, Paddy Duncan, Frank Ghent, Johnny Murray. Coach: Charlie Harris.

Att: 1,506
Referee: H Retschury (Austria)

Tuesday, June 3 | Stade Olympique de Colombes – International Friendly

IRELAND 3 (Duncan 15, Robinson 48, Ghent 69) ESTONIA 1 (Upraus 37)
Ireland: Paddy O’Reilly; Tommy Murphy, Jack McCarthy; John Thomas, John Joe Dykes, Tommy Muldoon; Christy Robinson, Frank Ghent, Paddy Duncan, Charlie Dowdall, Johnny Murray. Coach
Charlie Harris.

Att: 3,000
Referee: Y Mohamed (Egypt)

Saturday, June 14 | Dalymount Park – Friendly

IRELAND 3 (Brooks 3) USA 1 (Rhody)
Ireland: Frank Collins; Bertie Kerr, Tommy Murphy; John Thomas, Paddy Duncan, Tommy Muldoon; Mickey Farrell, Tony Hunston, Ned Brooks, Charlie Dowdall, Johnny Murray. Coach: Charlie Harris.

Att: 5,000
Referee: J Kelly (Ireland).

Men’s Match Preview: Longford Town (A)

Written by Admin on . Posted in Men's, News.

Date: 18th of May 2024
Kick-off: 7.30pm
Venue: Bishopsgate

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

‘El Classico’ seldom disappoints. Last time out, Athlone seemed to be dead and buried at half time and then somehow snatched a draw in the second half. Click here to read about the last game between the clubs.

Longford moved off the foot of the table with victory on Monday night against Treaty United. Athlone have been in good form recently but there away form is still not where they would like.

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

“We are taking each game as it comes. We know we are in a difficult game. Everyone worked well together to get the 3 points Friday and we need to keep untied to get a result.”

Team News

Athlone Town AFC have a couple of injury concerns, Noah Van Geenen is still ruled out. Oisin Duffy is still returning to play gradually, both German and Aaron Connolly return from suspension.

Past Encounters

El Classico seldom fails to entertain, from Pierrot announcing himself last year in style and then to his wonderful goal in Longford last year in added time to settle the tie. A draw earlier this year following a poor first half performance from Athlone. It is a difficult game to call a draw is likely too as the last two league games between these clubs they couldn’t be separated.

Key Players to Watch

For Athlone Town AFC, Dean Ebbe has fired his way to the top of the scoring charts this season and with five goals in his last four games we hope he can find the back of the net in Longford.

Longford Town Luke Wade-Slater brings a wealth of experience to their club, and he has played every minute of their last thirteen games. He is one of the permanent fixtures of the Longford Town team this season, having joined from Drogheda United in the transfer window.

Match Tickets
Ticket’s 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.

LONGFORD TOWN V ATHLONE TOWN (loitv.ie)

Referee Team
Referee: Aaron O’Dowd   
1st Assistant Referee: Conor Harkin 
2nd Assistant Referee: Keenan Deering
4th Official: Michael Connolly

Women’s Match Preview: Galway United (A)

Written by Admin on . Posted in News, Women's.

Date: 18th of May 2024
Kick-off: 5pm
Venue: Eamon Deacy Park

This is final fixture in Group D of the All-Island Cup. The FAI Cup champions take on the All-Island Cup champions part II. Both teams have taken maximum points so far in this competition so have already qualified for the knockout stages.

In the opening game of the season, Galway made a great start to their campaign and haven’t looked back since. They delivered a real hammer blow to Athlone on that occasion winning 2-0 on the night. Galway are one of the two the undefeated team this season and will be looking to keep that record going. Galway have played five games at home this season and haven’t conceded a goal, scoring seventeen in the process. On paper is it a mammoth task for the visitors to go to EDP and get a result.

Ciaran Kilduff spoke to AthloneTownAFC.ie and stated “We will be approaching this game like any other, despite both teams being already through in the group. It’s another opportunity to test ourselves against one of the best teams in the country.”

Team News

Athlone Town AFC come into the game with a chance to rest some key players. Chloe Singleton is a doubt and Ciara Glacken is ruled out.

Past Encounters

Athlone Town and Galway played four times last season and with only four goals coming we expect this game to be tight and the game could be decided by one goal. Galway are very dangerous from set pieces and the Athlone back line will need to be on the top of their game.

Key Players to Watch

For Athlone Town AFC Shauna Brennan has gone from strengthen to strengthen this season and really found her form in recent weeks and we hope to see more of the same form the left back.

For Galway United Jenna Slattery is a superb talent and currently sits top of the scoring charts. Usually when she plays well, Galway play well, the 20-year-old midfielder turned into ta real leader for her team.

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  

Referee Team
Referee Paudie Hayes
1st Assistant Referee: Dermot Broughton             
2nd Assistant Referee: Emmett Dynan
4th Official: Marc Lynch

Women’s Match Report: Wexford FC (H)

Written by Admin on . Posted in News, Women's.

Kayleigh Shine’s at The Back

Both teams started brightly, and it was clear it was a tense atmosphere with both teams needing a win or a least a draw.

We had to wait 19 minutes for the first real chance of the game. Kate Selvin won the ball in midfield and found Casey Howe, who helped it to Chloe Singleton. Singleton who was running at the Wexford back line played a great ball to Roisin Molloy who had time, getting her cross in towards Madison Gibson but Jayne Merren read it well and was out quickly to save it.

In the 22nd minute Gibson finds Kate Selvin who with a bit of space and she unleashed a shot, but it was never troubling the Wexford goal.

In the 23rd minute, a long ball over the top by Kellie Brennan gave Casey Howe something to chase but Merren realising shes outside of the box deals with it by kicking, it clear very clever goalkeeping.

In the 33rd minute we had Wexford’s first real chance. A sustained attack from Wexford found Aine Walsh on the right-hand side. She played a clever pass to Murphy who found Ciara Rossiter inside the box who done brilliantly to find Ellen Molloy who is closed quickly by Roisin Molloy who blocked the shot going out for a corner to Wexford.

Della Doherty should have scored from the resulting corner; her run wasn’t tracked and with time and space she just couldn’t get a good connection on the ball, and it bounced over the bar. It was a real warning for the hosts.

Kellie Brennan in the 38th minute played a good one two with Roisin Molloy on the right and Kellie got the shot away. It had Merren scrambling in the Wexford goal, but it went narrowly wide.

It was an even first half and the teams went in at half time 0-0.

Wexford started the second half brightly and could have found the front two minutes after the restart. Athlone were building out from the back Gibson was caught in possession and the ball was played forward to the exciting Ceola Bergin who laid it off to Rossiter whose left footed shot from distance just narrowly over the bar.

In the 56th minute of the game Wexford created another great chance, a quick Orlaith Conlon throw in found Rossiter who wasn’t picked up and it allowed her to play a ball over the top for Bergin to run onto leaving her one on one with Katie Keane, her touch allowed Shine to recover and get herself between that player and the ball allowing Keane to make the save.

In the 60th minute a good ball in behind from Molloy finds Chloe Singleton whose chipped effort is narrowly over the bar. This was an even game and it looked like it was going to finish scoreless.

In the 70th minute we finally got the goal the game needed. Clancy played a ball forward looking for Bergin, but Jesi Rossman intercepted the ball and stepped into midfield. She played a quick ball out to Gibson on the left wing who took on Russell beating her and pulling the ball back to Singleton who brilliantly placed the ball into the bottom corner putting the town one nil up.

Moments later it could have been two. A Kellie Brennan cross found Kerry Brown with her back to goal and she chipped it over her head finding Gibson in front of goal but her shot was always going over the bar.

A Freya de Mange free kick had Athlone worried in the 83rd minute, from about 30 yards out she had a go looking for the top corner, but it went narrowly over.

Athlone held on for the win and sees them move back to third in the table on thirteen points and Wexford eighth on four points with both teams having played a game less than the teams around them.

Athlone Town AFC: Katie Keane, Kellie Brennan, Kayleigh Shine, Shauna Brennan, Jesi Lynne Rossman. Kate Slevin, Chloe Singleton, Casey Howe (Gillian Keenan 85′), Laurie Ryan ©, Roisin Molloy (Kerryanne Brown 71′), Madison Gibson

Unused Substitutes: Amy Mahon, Isabel Ryan, Antea Guvo, Mary Philips, Aoife Murphy O’Connor, Hazel Donegan, Ciara O’Neill

Bookings: Singleton (82)

Attendance: 436

AthloneTownAFC.ie Player of The Match: Kayleigh Shine

Men’s Match Report: Bray Wanderers (H)

Written by Admin on . Posted in Men's, News.

Athlone Town Stadium Is Becoming a Fortress    
Athlone secured victory on the 10th of May 2024, playing out a 2-1 win against Bray.

Dario made two changes to his starting eleven, which saw Jarlath Jones and Matthew Leal come into the team with German Fuentes Rodriguez and Aaron Connolly missing out due to suspension.

Athlone started well and found the front right as 4 minutes click up on the clock. Athlone were looking dangerous and passing the ball well. Carl Mujaguzi laid the ball off to Jamar Campion-Hinds who clipped a ball over the top to Dean Ebbe. Deano timed his run to perfection to stay onside and headed it past the on rushing Stephen McGuinness to put the Town one nil to the good early on.

Bray had a chance to level the score in 12th minute when a Kieran Cruise found Cristian Magerusan in the six-yard box, but he wasn’t able to turn his shot goalward.

Similar to the goal in the 4th minute, Jamar Campion-Hinds clipped a ball over the top to Dean Ebbe who timed his run brilliantly again, but Stephen Mc Guinness was out quickly to claim the ball this time around.

Bray had their best chance of the opening half in the 26th minute. Athlone were wise to a quick Bray throw and Harry Groome found time and space to pick out Shane Griffin just outside the box, his delayed pass found Magerusan whose footwork allowed him to find some space and he got the shot away, but Enda Minogue brilliantly saved down to his left to keep the score at 1-0. To this point it was a 50-50 game and both teams were creating opportunities, and this was the best one for the visitors up to this point and the teams went in at half time with the score at 1-0.

The second half started how the first half ended with both teams playing well and trying to get the next goal. In the 54th minute, Athlone had a throw-in just inside the Bray half and it was worked well by Ebbe who found Oakley about 35 yards from goal, but his shot was deflected narrowly over the bar for the first corner of the second half. Torre took the resulting corner which was almost turned in by Ruben Candal, the ball was cleared by Bray, but only as far as Oakley who played the ball in behind for Ebbe, and in similar fashion he chipped McGuinness was out to try and claim the ball but the ball found the back of the net to put the Town 2-0 up.

Complacency started to set in for Athlone and almost cost them a goal. Enda Minogue dwelled on the ball in his box and that allowed Shane Griffin to close him down. Griffin nicked the ball from the Athlone goalkeeper and got the shot away, but Minogue recovered well to make a brilliant recovery save. Athlone didn’t learn from this and minutes later Ruben Candal was caught in possession and Magerusan blocked a pass which left him one on one with Minogue in the Athlone goal, but a brilliant recovery tackle by the ever dependable Dylan Hand saved the Athlone blushes on this occasion. However, it felt like a Bray goal was coming.

And it was in the 62nd minute Bray did find the back of the net, missed tackles and complacency lead to a corner for Bray that wasn’t dealt with, and Paul Murphy made no mistake from 6 yards getting his team back in the game. From the restart, Bray were awarded a freekick and it was only cleared as far as Magerusan who curled a shot from just outside the eighteen-yard box hitting the crossbar. Athlone needed to get a grip of the game, or it could slip away.

Athlone started to play again and had a goal ruled out in the 69th minute for offside. The assistant put the flag up despite it appeared that Mujaguzi was well onside, but the positive was Athlone were starting to run at the Bray defence again.

Athlone were awarded a penalty in the 74th minute when the brilliant Mujaguzi ran into the box with Paul Murphy for company and Murphy had his two arms around him and pulled Mujaguzi to the ground. Dean Ebbe stepped up on a hattrick, but McGuinness had other ideas and saved brilliantly with his legs to keep Bray in the game. It would be an interesting last fifteen minutes.

A Bray corner in the 81st minute was headed narrowly over by Freddie Turley Athlone were having to weather a storm to hold onto the three points.

As 95 minutes came up on the clock Bray won a corner which was surely the last action of the game. Stephen McGuinness came forward also there were twenty players in the box for the corner. It was cleared by Oisin Duffy and it fell to Guillermo Almirall who blasted the ball well over the bar and that was it, Athlone Town Stadium is not a place teams will like to visit.

Athlone held on to win 1-0 and pick up the three points.

Following match day fourteen this result sees Athlone move to third on twenty-five points and the Seagulls move down to fifth on twenty-one points.

Athlone Town AFC: Enda Minogue, Jarlath Jones, Daniel McKenna ©, Dylan Hand, Ruben Candal (Shane Forbes 73’), Dean Ebbe, Jamar Campion-Hinds (Jamal Ibrahim 54’), Carl Mujaguzi (Oisin Duffy 92’), Amardo Oakley, Brian Torre (65’) Matthew Leal

Unused Substitutes: Andrew Stuart Trainor, Gabriel Padilla, Divine Izekor, Gideon Tetteh, Roscoe Rubinstein, Ciaran Nolan

Bookings: Ibrahim (94)

Attendance: 558

AthloneTownAFC.ie Man of The Match: Dean Ebbe