League Preview: Athlone Town -v- Shelbourne

ATHLONE TOWN 

If the Town's Senior Women’s Manager Ciarán Kilduff were to channel his inner MMA fighter, his rhetoric may go a little something like this.

“We’re not here to take part, we’re here to take over.” 

Such a bold proclamation from the Kilcock native is unlikely to raise an eyebrow over a pint at Sean’s Bar were it to ever come to fruition, given the 34-year old enters  the managerial fray with an impressive record as a professional player - Premier Division crowns with Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk, along with First Division medals with UCD and Shelbourne, the most ‘notorious’ of his achievements to date.

Following Kilduff’s side's 3-0 President’s Cup win on the lip of Athlone’s season opener against reigning League of Ireland champions Peamount United, who can argue?

Yet like any combatants on the fringes of greatness, the narrative of their climb is made all the more captivating when a giant heavyweight seeks to land a forty-wink knockout on their starting XI that not even The Shelbourne Hotel could accommodate.

The women from the heart of the isle will, like the nimble Katie Taylor in her victorious rematch against Delfine Persoon, look to read the Tolka tactician's jabs before they land, having faced off against the Reds in both the 2022 and 2023 FAI Cup Finals.

Despite falling foul of the scorecards in the first finale in 2022, the 2023 contest trumped a different result, the colour of the Towns black and blue kit the only bruising on show after ball was placed on spot.

The Midlander’s 5-2 comeback in their All-Island Cup opener against Casey Howes' former club Glentoran will too have instilled confidence in the squad in advance of their home contest against three time league winners Shelbourne, while their 1-0 victory over a bold and blinding Bohs will add further fuel to their dream of a title win in 2024.

On Kilduff's tactical vision for the squad this season and the Town's ambitions, Howe told club media: “He’s implemented an attacking style of football which is something I believe I can thrive in…we’re looking to win the League and get Champions League football this year.”

Who would bet against them?

SHELBOURNE

Eoin Wearen’s Shelbourne will look to stretch their tally further in the Women’s Premier Division as they traverse the M4 and look to avenge their FAI Cup Final loss when they face the Midlands Mercenaries.

While too early to deduce a transparent shape on the league table, a 2-0 victory over the Peas along with a 0-0 draw against Sligo Rovers has placed the Reds in a promising second place, two points off a glittering Galway United who dispatched their upcoming opposition 2-0 in their season opener.

When asked by Breifne Earley from FinalWhistle.ie whether Wearen felt pressure to ship Shelbourne back to their League-winning form of two and three years ago, Wearen said: “Yeah look it’s something that I think you have to enjoy and you have to embrace it. I said to the players at the start of the season that we expect to compete on all fronts this year and there is always going to be pressure that comes with that." 

Having initially taken up a position within the Shels Academy in July of last year, Wearen is ideally placed to serve as a conduit between the Reds Under 17s and 19s reservoir of talent and the first team.

“There’s going to be huge emphasis still on bringing through young players,” he insisted, when asked to elaborate on his future plans to utilise the Academy.

“Look there's been three or four - everybody knows about Rebecca [Devereux] and Hannah [Healy] last year but there were three or four others that we’ve promoted into the first team squad this year that fully deserve that opportunities.”

Referee: Lucas Keating

MATCH STATS

The Reds will look to score a league hattrick against the Town and spoil the party in Sean’s Bar this Saturday evening when they take on Kilduff's side in an evening kick-off at 7.30 pm, while their 4-3 penalty loss to the Town in last year’s FAI Cup Final will add a sprinkle of additional spice to what is already shaping up to be a tasty encounter.

PREDICTION

Athlone Town 2 - 1 Shelbourne 

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— extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) March 29, 2024