League Preview: Athlone Town -v- Cork City

ATHLONE TOWN

Athlone Town will be hoping to build on their recent improving form this Friday night when they entertain second placed Cork City. They got two draws against Shamrock Rovers and UCD in recent weeks to keep the dream of Premier Division survival still alive.

Athlone are currently five points adrift at the foot of the table behind UCD but will be hoping to claim some points in their remaining nine games to beat the drop and they will hope to get a point from tomorrow night’s game.

Athlone Town have lost the previous two meetings between the sides this season. In March, they lost 3-0 at home to a Mark O’Sullivan first half goal, followed up by goals from Billy Dennehy and Liam Kearney in the second half. At the end of May, Cork City won 1-0 in Turners Cross thanks to a Mark O’ Sullivan second half goal.

Athlone Town will be missing Aidan Collins, who is still three to four weeks away from a return to fitness, while Eric Foley will miss out due to a one match suspension. Also missing for the midland side are Graham Rusk and Stephen Quigley who are both ruled out with season ending injuries.

On a more positive note for Athlone, manager Keith Long returns to the dugout after serving a two match suspension while defender Alan Byrne and striker Philly Gorman rejoin the squad after their recent absence from playing.

CORK CITY

Cork City will be looking to bounce back from the FAI Cup loss to Bohemians on Monday night with all three points against Athlone Town, as they attempt to sustain their title challenge coming into the final nine games of the season.

Cork City have enjoyed playing Athlone Town this season as the six points on the table indicate. A 3-0 victory earlier in the season for Cork City, thanks to goals from Mark O’ Sullivan, Billy Dennehy and Liam Kearney, was followed up in May with victory in Turners Cross, thanks to a Mark O’ Sullivan looping header.

Cork City manager John Caulfield spoke to the media in the Cork International Hotel earlier in the week and he appears to show Athlone a lot of respect by saying, “Keith has done a great job at Athlone. When he took them over, they had no points and they are now within touching distance of the teams above them.”

The Cork manager then said, “They’re battling and they have had three home wins in their last number of home games, while they have also drawn against Shamrock Rovers, so their home form has been excellent”.

Cork City will be without a few players for the trip to Athlone tomorrow with Rob Lehane still out injured along with Michael McSweeney, who picked up a knock in the FAI Cup draw against Bohemians last week. John O’ Flynn will be subject to a late fitness test before the game as he is currently struggling with an injury. While Michael Rafter remains out for the rest of the season with an ankle injury.

Match Referee: Jim McKell

MATCH FACTS:

Athlone Town have not scored a goal against Cork City in their last six league meetings.

Despite being bottom of the league, Athlone Town have conceded seventeen league goals at home this season. This is the same number as third-placed St Patrick’s Athletic and both sides are joint seventh in the Premier Division in terms of fewest goals conceded at home.

Both sides have played ten league games since they last met. In those ten games, Athlone Town won ten points, while Cork City won twenty. Athlone Town scored more goals in that period however; scoring fifteen times compared to Cork City’s twelve.

BETTING

Athlone Town: 5/1 Draw: 12/5 Cork City: 8/13

PREDICTION

Athlone Town 0-2 Cork City

Athlone Town

Injured: Aidan Collins, Stephen Quigley, Graham Rusk
Doubtful: None
Suspended: Eric Foley

Cork City

Doubtful: John O’ Flynn
Injured: Rob Lehane, Michael Rafter, Michael McSweeney
Suspended: None