First Division Preview: Athlone Town host Longford Town in Midlands El Clasico as UCD welcome Treaty United to Belfield

Longford Town's Conor Crowley and Athlone Town defender Dylan Hand (right)

Longford Town's Conor Crowley and Athlone Town defender Dylan Hand (right) Credit: Eddie Lennon (ETPhotos)

Second placed Athlone Town host neighbours Longford Town in the third instalment of the Midlands El Clasico of this season’s First Division. 

Both ties have ended in draws this term as the pair get set to meet at the Athlone Town Stadium on Friday evening, kick-off is at 7.45pm.

The first meeting saw Longford race into a 3-0 lead before the half-time break with Adam Wixted, Oisin Hand and a Jarlath Jones own-goal putting them in control. 

But a second-half collapse allowed Athlone back into the game as they salvaged a point with Dean Ebbe scoring twice and Jamal Ibrahim netting once. 

Athlone took the lead in the most recent clash at Bishopsgate but were pegged back late on in a 1-1 draw.

In terms of team news for Friday’s tie, Athlone are likely to remain without goalkeeper Enda Minogue through injury as they look to build on last week’s 2-1 win over UCD.

Longford added Carl Lennox, Daniel Norris, Eric Yoro, Emre Topcu and Christian Lotefa to their squad last week. 

But they have parted ways with Chris Lyons, Jack Harrington (now with Athlone Town) and Sami Clarke. Attacker Vasyl Tropanets also left Wayne Groves’ charges earlier this week.

Referee: Daryl Carolan. 

PREDICTION: Athlone Town 2-0 Longford Town.



UCD v Treaty United, UCD Bowl, 7.45pm

Willie O’Connor’s Students will be keen to right the wrongs of a poor run of form that has seen their automatic promotion hopes disappear.

UCD have won two, drawn six and lost one of their last nine league outings - leaving them 16 points behind league leaders Cork City with just 13 games to play. 

Their sole defeat during that run only arrived last week when they were edged out by Athlone Town at home, losing 2-1.

That setback has also seen them drop back to third in the table, with the Co Westmeath side now second. 



Meanwhile, Treaty United are just seven points outside the play-off places after winning three of their last six games. But they have lost their last two in a row against Athlone Town (1-0) and Cobh Ramblers (1-0).

The Shannonsiders have also been boosted by the arrivals of Lee J Lynch and Steven Healy upon the opening of the summer transfer window earlier this month.

UCD, however, are likely to remain without midfielder Ronan Finn - with defender Harry Curtis still out after copping a ten-match ban earlier this season. 

Curtis, however, only has two games left on his current suspension.

Referee: Declan Toland.

PREDICTION:UCD 2-0 Treaty United

Cork City v Finn Harps, Turner’s Cross, 7.45pm

First Division leaders, Cork City, will be looking to extend their lead at the top when they face Finn Harps at Turners Cross on Friday.

They look to have recovered from a blip prior to the mid-season break and are hoping to win their fifth game in a row.

Cathal O’Sullivan was the star of the show last weekend as his superb double helped them recover from going behind at Wexford to win 3-1. Jack Doherty was also on target late on.

Meanwhile, Finn Harps visit the Leesiders after returning to winning ways last weekend against Kerry. 

The Co Donegal side defeated the Kingdom 1-0 to end a run of four games without a win as a goal from Sean Patton sealed it. 

Neither side has issued any team news for Friday’s game.

Referee: Daniel Murphy.

PREDICTION:Cork City 2-1 Finn Harps.

Kerry v Bray Wanderers, Mounthawk Park, 7.45pm

Kerry boss Conor McCarthy insists he is expecting a very tough tie against Bray Wanderers on Friday night at Mounthawk Park. 

The Kingdom head into the showdown with the Seagulls following a hot-tempered 1-0 defeat against Finn Harps last weekend. 

Boss McCarthy saw red for his involvement in a post-match fracas - as did attacker Kennedy Amechi. 

Both will be suspended for Friday’s game as a result and the Kerry boss is hoping his side can defeat Bray with a squad that is also set to be without Valerii Dolia through injury.

“Bray are going very well,” McCarthy said. “With Ian Ryan's departure, I thought they might struggle a bit because they were on a good spell when Ian stepped away. 

“But Lorcan (Fitzgerald) has gone in there and seems to have continued that along and maybe even improved things further.

“When we do play at home we seem to make it very difficult for teams to come down here so we need to use that and give it a right go for the 90+ minutes.”

Bray, who are fifth in the table, have reported that midfielder Shane Griffin and defender Jamie Duggan are ruled out via injuries.

Referee: Mark Moynihan. 

PREDICTION: Kerry 1-0 Bray Wanderers.

Wexford v Cobh Ramblers, Ferrycarrig Park, 7.45pm

Wexford will be looking to end a wretched seven-game winless run on Friday evening when they host Cobh Ramblers. 

The Slaneysiders last victory came against Kerry on May 17 when they won 2-0 at home.

Since then they have struggled for results and have slipped back to seventh in the table. James Keddy’s side are now four points behind fifth-placed Bray Wanderers in the race for the final play-off spot. 

But the Ferrycarrig Park outfit have moved to sign defenders Lewis Temple and Divin Isamala in their bid to arrest their run of form. 

However, midfielders Brandon McCann and Aaron Robinson have recently departed. 

Cobh, however, are two points clear of Wexford and come into the game off the back of a 1-0 triumph over Treaty United last weekend.

Gary Hunt is likely to remain without striker Beineon O’Brien-Whitmarsh and defender Cian Browne through injury.  

Referee: Oliver Moran. 

PREDICTION: Wexford 2-1 Cobh Ramblers.

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