Women’s Match Preview: Shelbourne FC (H)
Women’s Premier Division
Date: 30th March 2024
Kick-off: 7.30pm
Venue: Athlone Town Stadium, Athlone
Athlone Town vs Shelbourne has become one of the must-see games on the fixture list in recent seasons. Both teams have faced each other in the last two FAI Cup Finals resulting in a win each. Shels have won the National League on three occasions and really established themselves as the team to beat if you want to have success in the league.
Ciaran Kilduff’s side come into this game after a brilliant comeback win on Sunday in Belfast having trailed at the break. Casey Howe scored two and really showed her potential, securing a place in the Northern Ireland European Qualifiers Squad and we wish her well. Last time out in the League Athlone came up against a very good Boh’s team and got a valuable three points on the board. Shelbourne on the other hand have had a great start to the campaign having beaten champions Peamount last week to go second in the table.
Laurie Ryan said to AthloneTownAFC.ie “We are looking forward to this game, it’s a massive game early on in the season and important that we show what we can do against one of the best teams in the country.”
Manager Ciaran Kilduff said “I’m delighted to have picked up the win last week in the All-Island Cup but it’s important to keep the momentum going in this fixture with Shelbourne, they are a really good side and it’s crucial that we play the best we can if we have any chance to come away with three points.”
Team News
Athlone Town AFC the treatment table for Athlone is becoming a problem with Maddison Gibson, Ciara Glacken and Jenaya Robertson all ruled out. Abby Ciracho has picked up a significant knee injury and likely out for months. Mary Phillips also missed training this week and is likely to miss the game.
Past Encounters
Both teams have played nine times in the league and Shels have dominated the fixture winning seven of those fixtures and scoring twenty times and only conceding four. Add in the 3 cup games and on paper it’s a difficult game for this injury hit Athlone Team.
Key Players to Watch
For Athlone Town AFC Katie Keane has been a superb signing from the club. The first player in modern times to be given a multi-year contract she has kept six clean sheets in her eleven appearances for the club and made some massive penalty saves along the way. She has been included in Dave Connell’s latest u19 squad and it’s only a matter of time before she gets a senior cap.
For Shels Pearl Slattery has won numerous honours with Shels including three league titles, and four domestic cups. She has been a great servant to the club and is the heartbeat of the team. She drives them on from the back and is certainly a player to watch.