League Preview: Athlone Town -v- Dundalk

• Macdara Ferris
• Sun, Apr 20 2014




ATHLONE TOWN

On Easter Monday, Athlone Town look to resurrect their season and get a first league win when they face Dundalk in Lissywollen (kick off 5pm). A victory for Athlone wouldn’t exactly be a miracle as they face joint league leaders Dundalk but with eight defeats from their eight SSE Airtricity League games to date, plus a suspension and injury crisis, it will be a tough task for Mick Cooke’s men.

 

Athlone have been beaten by just a single goal in five of those defeats including their last two games, both away from home; a 3-2 defeat to Derry and a 2-1 loss in Limerick on Good Friday. That was a costly defeat for the Midlanders who had goalkeeper Paul Skinner sent off late in the game and he will miss Monday’s match due to that red card. Defenders Alan Bryne and Derek Prendergast are also both suspended from this game against Dundalk.

 

Last Friday, Kealan Dillon had got Athlone back into the game just before half time after they trailed to a Robbie Williams goal. Tam McManus put Limerick 2-1 up in the second half before the dramatic red card on 77 minutes. With substitute goalkeeper Craig Sexton ill, it was left to Sean Brennan to go in goal after Skinner’s sending off and he saved Shane Tracy’s penalty kick. However his team couldn’t find an equaliser in the final period of the game in Thomond Park.

 

The two clubs last met in the league in Athlone in September 2008 in a game that finished 2-2, a result that prevented Dundalk going top of the First Division table back then. A similar result on Monday would go down well in Athlone giving them a boost ahead of a trip to the champions St. Pat’s on Friday.

 

DUNDALK

Dundalk will be looking to put the disappointment of their draw with Shamrock Rovers last Friday behind them when they visit Athlone on Monday for the first match in the top division of the League of Ireland between the sides since 1996. The 2-2 draw for Dundalk in Oriel Park on Friday knocked them off top spot in the table but more crucial for their league campaign saw them lose influential captain Stephen O’Donnell for the rest of the season due to a cruciate knee injury.

 

“Stephen has been an inspiring captain for us,” said his manager Stephen Kenny speaking to dundalkfc.com. “He has been outstanding since his arrival at the club. I believe that his performances have elevated further this season and he has been the best player in the league so far in 2014. I’m sure Stephen has the strength of character to get through this difficult period.”

 

O’Donnell was injured just before the break with the Lilywhites trailing 1-0 but second half goals from Richie Towell, from the penalty spot, and Darren Meenan put them back in the ascendancy over Rovers. That game had come four days after Dundalk’s semi-final second leg win at the same venue against the same opponents which earned them a place in next month’s Setanta Sports Cup final.

 

Stephen Kenny’s men really should have wrapped up all three points against 10 man Rovers in the second half. They were made pay for a couple of crucial misses when Ronan Finn scored for the Hoops in injury time to end a dramatic night in Oriel Park. The Lilywhites are on an 11 match unbeaten run, since their opening night league defeat, with nine wins in all competitions and are focused on making it ten wins when they face Athlone in the early evening kick off on Monday.

 

“We were disappointed not to win against Shamrock Rovers especially when we went in front,” said Sean Gannon speaking to dundalkfc.com. “To be pegged back was frustrating but we have been on a good run and not to lose is the important thing.

“We have a game quickly which may be a good thing,” said the 22-year-old right back. “It has worked out well for us this year. However Athlone Town are a good side and we will get a tough game down there but hopefully we can get another win.”

 

Referee: Graham Kelly.

 

MATCH STATS
The last time a team lost their first eight Ireland of Ireland top flight fixtures like Athlone Town was St. James’s Gate in the 1943/44 season.

 

November 2008 was the last time Athlone Town played Dundalk in a competitive fixture. The Midlanders suffered one of their heaviest ever defeats in that match losing 7-0 in Oriel Park. Niall Scullion is the only surviving member of the Athlone Town squad from that day who is still involved with the club today.

 

Philip Gorman is top league goalscorer so far this season for Athlone Town with Pat Hoban having the honours for Dundalk. Both strikers have found the net four times.

 

BETTING
Athlone Town 10/1; Draw 17/4; Dundalk 1/4.

 

PREDICTION
2-0 away win to Dundalk.

 

Athlone Town

Injured: Aidan Collins (shoulder), Neil Harney (dead leg).

Suspended: Paul Skinner, Alan Byrne, Derek Prendergast.

 

Dundalk

Injured: Stephen O’Donnell.

Suspended: None.