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All-Island Cup Fixtures Confirmed

The fixtures for the 2024 All-Island Cup Group Stage have been confirmed with the first round of games set to kick-off on Saturday, March 23rd.

The competition, which began last year involves 16 senior women’s teams in total. 11 from the League of Ireland and 5 from the Northern Ireland Football League make up the four groups of four teams.

The Town were drawn in Group D along with Sligo Rovers, Glentoran and last season’s winners Galway United.

The first game for Athlone will take place up North on Sunday, March 24th at Blanchflower Stadium against Glentoran FC, before a home game against Sligo Rovers, followed by a trip to Eamonn Deacy Park.

Below are the fixture details in full:

Matchday 1:

Glentoran FC v Athlone Town

Sunday, March 24th

Blanchflower Stadium

Kick-off: 4.30pm

Matchday 2:

Athlone Town v Sligo Rovers

Saturday, April 20th

Athlone Town Stadium

Kick-off: 7pm

Matchday 3:

Galway United v Athlone Town

Saturday, May 18th

Eamonn Deacy Park

Kick-off: 5pm

Should Ciaran Kilduff’s team progress past the groupstage, the quarter-finals ties will take place on the week ending June 23rd before the competition moves to the semi-finals on the week ending July 21st and then finishing with the Final on the week ending August 18th.

Match Preview: v Galway United

SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division: Athlone Town AFC vs Galway United

Date: March 9th, 2024

Kick-off: 7.30pm

Venue: Athlone Town Stadium

We are finally here. The season kicks off this Saturday with Athlone Town taking on Galway United. The FAI Cup champions take on the All-Island Cup champions. Athlone haven’t conceded many goals in Athlone since Ciaran Kilduff took over but Galway will be hoping for a bit of magic to unlock the Athlone defence.

Team News

Athlone Town AFC come into the game with a couple of injury concerns. Chloe Singleton is a doubt having missed training this week and Ciara Glackin is ruled out for a couple of months.

Galway United are expected to have a full squad to choose from.

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 Kerryanne Browne is one to watch for the season ahead and she showed against Peamount in the Presidents Cup what she is capable of. Athlone Town fans can expect to see Kerry excel in the Athlone jersey this season.

For Galway United Eve Dossen is a superb talent and recently returned from an international camp with Ireland u19’s. She can play in midfield or defence and will have a great League of Ireland career ahead of her.


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

Referee Team
Referee
: Michael Connolly
1st Assistant Referee: Kate O’Brien
2nd Assistant Referee: John Hanney
4th Official: Declan Toland

Athlone Town Win Successive President’s Cups


Athlone Town AFC are the President’s Cup Champions again. FAI Cup Winners Athlone beat League Champions Peamount United 3-0 in front of a large crowd today in Athlone Town Stadium.

The weather was a factor in the build-up, but it had cleared up just in time before kick-off. Athlone Town were quicker out of the blocks and the first real chance of the game fell to Kate Slevin who, after some good work on the left-hand side by Madison Gibson, ran onto the cross which wasn’t dealt with by Peamount but before Slevin could connect with the shot it was cleared well by Dearbhaile Beirne.

Athlone started the brighter of the two teams and Casey Howe was a wonderful option for the Athlone midfielders when they were in possession with her playing off the shoulder of the Peamount defenders and her ability to run in behind. In the 17th minute Howe latched onto a through ball by Gibson and ran towards goal but not for the first time in the game Beirne put in a tremendous tackle to halt Howe and the ball went out for a corner.

Peamount United grew stronger as the half progressed and 23 minutes in Jesi Rossman was caught in possession by Lauryn O’Callaghan just outside the 18-yard box and laid the ball to Ellen Dolan who found Doyle in space but her shot was well saved by Katie Keane in the Athlone goal. Both teams had some chances before the break but as the whistle went it was level as the teams left the field.

The second half began like the first with Athlone looking the brighter of the two teams and Peamount growing as the game went on but teams trading chances, but in the 70th minute of the game Athlone had the best chance of the game so far as Gibson was fouled in the box by O’Callaghan and referee Ray Mathews pointed to the spot. Gibson stepped up but her penalty was saved brilliantly by Peas keeper Niamh Reid Burke to keep the score level.

Things changed for the better for Athlone after this as they began to drive at the Peamount back line. In the 74th minute, Laurie Ryan confused herself with Ronaldhino and picked up the ball in midfield and went on a mazy run but unfortunately it ended up with a goal kick for Peamount.

Athlone pushed on at this stage and finally got the breakthrough in the 77th minute with a great run by Molloy down the right hand side and the cut back to Kellie Brennan who crossed and found the unmarked Chloe Singleton who turned the ball home to put ‘The Town’ 1-0 up.

On the 83rd minute, things got better for Athlone from a Gibson corner. The ball dropped to Singleton who doubled her and Athlone’s tally from 6 yards out. Casey Howe was excellent all night and finally got her reward with 4 minutes to go where she got ahead of the defender and turned home a Gibson cross to make it 3-0 to Athlone.

Peamount thought they had gotten a consolation goal in additional time when Ellen Dolan shot from outside the eighteen yard box and pulled a word class save out of Katie Keane who was determined to hang onto her clean sheet.

It was all over after that and Athlone Town will be happy with the performance and a nice end to preseason training. Today’s win means that The Town women’s team have added three trophies to their Honours List in just over twelve months.

Athlone Town AFC: Katie Keane, Kellie Brennan, Kayleigh Shine, Shauna Brennan, Jesi Lynne Rossman, Kate Slevin (Jenaya Robertson 65’), Casey Howe, Kerryanne Brown (Chloe Singleton 65’), Laurie Ryan, Roisin Molloy (Gillian Keenan 83’), Madison Gibson   

Unused Substitutes: Amy Mahon, Isabel Ryan, Antea Guvo, Mary Philips, Ciara O’Neill, Abby Carchio

Bookings: None

Attendance: 1,152

AthloneTownAFC.ie Player of The Match: Casey Howe

Match Preview: v Peamount United

President’s Cup Final: Athlone Town AFC v Peamount United

Date: March 2nd 2024

Kick-off: 5pm

Venue: Athlone Town Stadium

Preseason preparations complete, the curtain raiser for the 2024 season is just days away. Peamount United, 2023 League Champions by some distance play Athlone Town AFC, 2023 Cup Champions in Athlone in what is sure to be a great day.

Ciaran Kilduff stated, “It’s great to have the work done. We’ve had a first pre-season as a group and it’s great to have this game to look forward to”. “The girls are looking forward to it, but we are coming up against a great side. They had the league wrapped up really early last year and they will be really up for it too.” he added.

Team News

Athlone Town AFC come into the game with a couple of injury concerns. Chloe Singleton, Madison Gibson and Jenaya Robertson are all a doubt having missed training last week and Ciara Glackin is ruled out for another week or two.

Peamount United seen Tara O’Hanlon leave in the off season but recruited well and added the exciting Erica Burke and Ciara Maher to the squad for the coming campaign. Congratulations to Erin McLaughlin and Jess Fitzgerald who were both part of the Irish Camp this week. Well done to both.

Past Encounters

Athlone Town-Peamount have had some entertaining games but Athlone have only ever managed to beat them once. Peamount were free scoring against Athlone last season so the girls will have a tough task to keep them at bay. That being said this should be and exciting encounter offering plenty of goals.

Key Players to Watch

For Athlone Town AFC Casey Howe has gotten better as preseason went on and she will be looking to get her name on the score sheet for the curtain raiser.

For Peamount United Freya Healy is one of the most exciting young talents in the league and will be looking to impress on occasions such as this.


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

Referee Team
Referee:
Ray Matthews
1st Assistant Referee: Sean Stephens
2nd Assistant Referee: Ryan Maher
4th Official: Michael Connolly

Match Preview: v Treaty United

Pre-Season Friendly: Athlone Town AFC vs Treaty United

Date: February 17th 2024

Kick-off: 2pm

Venue: Athlone Town Stadium

Preseason preparations are well underway for both sides and this is another step in the right direction.

Ciaran Kilduff stated, “Things are going well for us.” “The girls are in a good place and now this is us trying to get player match sharp for the start of the season. The team are looking forward to it” he added.

Team News

Athlone Town AFC has had a good pre-season, getting much needed minutes into players, however, there are a couple of injury concerns, with Kayleigh Shine unavailable and Jenaya Robertson a doubt for the opening match.

Treaty United, have been active in the transfer market, recruiting well to enhance their squad depth.

Past Encounters

Athlone Town and Treaty have only played 5 times ever and each encounter offering plenty of excitement and lots of goals. With both teams looking stronger and more ambitious this season, this game is expected to be no different.

Key Players to Watch

For Athlone Town AFC Kate Slevin has been superb this preseason and she will be looking to put her name on the team sheet for the curtain raiser before the league campaign where Athlone Play Peamount United in the Presidents Cup.

Treaty United have recruited well but it is Cara Griffin who will be under the spotlight, she had an excellent season last year and will be looking to build on her impressive stats.

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

Referee Team
Referee:
Ryan Maher
1st Assistant Referee: Ray Conlon
2nd Assistant Referee: Dean Stenson

2024 Home and Away kits launched

We were delighted to launch our new Home and Away kits at today’s League of Ireland launch at Vicar Street in Dublin.

Laurie Ryan represented the all black new home kit at the Women’s Premier Division launch with Senior Women’s manager Ciaran Kilduff.

Jarlath Jones kitted out in our new all white away kit at the Men’s First Division launch with Senior Men’s manager Dario Castelo.

Our traditional black and blue colours will be on our third kit this coming year.

We hope to make all of our kits available to purchase around the middle of February. Keep an eye on our social media channels for updates.

See the gallery below for images from today’s launch:

TG4 confirm fixtures for live broadcast

TG4 have announced that they will start off the 2024 SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division season by showing four games on free-to-air television. One of which involves Athlone Town against last season’s league winners, Peamount United.

Saturday, April 13th

Athlone Town AFC v Peamount United, Athlone Town Stadium, Kick-off: 7.35pm, LIVE ON TG4

We are pleased to see TG4’s continuation of it’s coverage of women’s football in Ireland and the excellent coverage they have provided games at Athlone Town Stadium and elsewhere around the league.


How you can watch the game:

Saorview: channel 4

Sky: channel 104 

Virgin Media: channel 104  (and channel 602 for kids),

Eircom live stream

Northern Ireland – Sky: channel 163

Virgin Cable: channel 877

Freeview: channel 51.

Worldwide: TG4.ie Player, IOS App and Android App.


All of our other league games are available on LOI TV.

Match Preview: v Bohemian FC

Pre-Season Friendly: Athlone Town AFC vs Bohemian FC

Date and Time: Saturday, February 3rd 2024

Kick-off: 2pm

Venue: Athlone Town Stadium

This weekend is the first game for the 2023 FAI Cup Champions Athlone Town AFC as they prepare to face off against Bohemian FC in what promises to be a great match in both teams pre-season preparations. In what is both teams first game of pre-season it will be great to see both teams in action. Athlone welcome a familiar face back to Athlone Town Stadium with Ken Kiernan taking up the Managers job at Bohs during the off-season.

Team News

Cup Champions Athlone come into this match with high spirits with a couple of new signings. Fans will have a chance to see Jenaya Robertson, Casey Howe and Kerry Browne all pull on the jersey for the first time. The squad has been training hard, focusing on their preseason preparations and coach Ciaran Kilduff is quoted as saying “This game comes at a perfect time in our pre-season. The girls are flying it and now we get to work on match sharpness”. Fiona Owens who is at the end of her recovery from a long-term injury is expected to return to play also. Ciara Glackin is still a few weeks away from making her return.

Past Encounters

Recently we have seen some memorable battles between these teams. Last year on TG4 we saw Athlone losing 2-0 at half time, worked hard for a comeback and thought they snatched a draw in the 93rd minute when Madison Gibson equalised, only for Mia Dodd to score a winner for The Gypsies 60 seconds later.

Key Players to Watch

For Athlone Town, captain Laurie Ryan could be pivotal in this match. She has become a real leader on and off the pitch and will look to drive the girls on following a brilliant run-in last season. On the Bohs side manager Ken Kiernan has recruited well and his new signing Alannah McEvoy from Shamrock Rovers, will be looking to impress.

Tickets for the game can be purchased by clicking here.

Women’s President’s Cup Details Confirmed

The 2024 Women’s President’s Cup has been confirmed to take place between Athlone Town and Peamount United at Athlone Town Stadium on Saturday, March 2nd, kicking off at 5pm.

The game will see last season’s SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division Champions Peamount United take on the 2023 Sports Direct Women’s FAI Cup Winners Athlone Town.

Tickets are now available via separate links for Athlone Town fans and Peamount United fans.

2024 President’s Cup
Athlone Town v Peamount United
Saturday, March 2nd
Athlone Town Stadium
Kick-off: 5pm

Dynamic Duo Return for the Upcoming Season

Athlone Town AFC is proud to announce that Kate Slevin and Shauna Brennan have both re-signed with the club for the upcoming season.

Kate Slevin, with her unmatched work rate and strategic understanding of the game, has been an integral part of our team’s success.

Shauna Brennan, known for her strong defensive play and leadership qualities, on the back of her excellent cup final performance, brings a level of consistency and reliability that is invaluable to our squad.

The return of both Slevin and Brennan is a testament to the positive environment Ciaran Kilduff has created.

We are thrilled about the future and confident that with players of Kate and Shauna’s caliber, our team is well-positioned for an exciting and successful season.

For further information or media inquiries, please contact:
media@athlonetownafc.ie