2011 Preview: Athlone Town
Credit:
Athlone Town
Founded: 1887
Major Honours: 2 League titles (1980/81, 1982/83), 1 First Division title (1987/88), 1 FAI Cup (1923/24), 3 League Cups (1979/80, 1981/82, 1982/83).
Stadium: Lisseywoollen
Manager: Mike Kerley
Captain: TBA
Transfers In: Darren Young (Geraldine FC), Tommy Barrett (Fairview Rangers), Bobby Tier (Fairview Rangers), Paul Danaher (Fairview Rangers), Brendan Daly (Pike Rovers), Gary Higgins (Janeboro FC), Colm Smith (Drogheda United).
Transfers Out: Garvan Broughall (Limerick), Austin Skelly (Longford Town), Des Hope (Longford Town), Paddy Collins (Longford Town), Brian McCarthy (Limerick), David Breen (Waterford United), Dean Marshall (UCD), Andy Haran (Monaghan United).
Athlone Town finished 10th in last season’s First Division with a symmetrical 33 points from 33 games. They managed only 34 league goals with almost a third of those scored by the now departed Austin Skelly. At the back they were more resolute conceding 48, with five of those coming against Limerick on the final day of the season.
New boss Mike Kerley has a major job on his hands for 2011 having lost several influential members of last year’s squad. Centre backs Brian McCarthy and Des Hope are gone and Skelly’s loss will be hard to overcome. Most of Athlone’s new signings have come from outside the league. Colm Smith from Drogheda represents the only new face with recent league experience while Tommy Barrett (signed from Fairview Rangers) has previous form with Shamrock Rovers and Limerick.
On the surface Athlone fans have little cause for optimism and 2011 offers Mike Kerley a genuine opportunity to show his management skills. With Shelbourne, Monaghan, Waterford, Cork and Limerick likely to form the top half of the table expect Athlone to be battling among Longford, Finn Harps, and Wexford in mid table.
Extratime Prediction: 9th.
Founded: 1887
Major Honours: 2 League titles (1980/81, 1982/83), 1 First Division title (1987/88), 1 FAI Cup (1923/24), 3 League Cups (1979/80, 1981/82, 1982/83).
Stadium: Lisseywoollen
Manager: Mike Kerley
Captain: TBA
Transfers In: Darren Young (Geraldine FC), Tommy Barrett (Fairview Rangers), Bobby Tier (Fairview Rangers), Paul Danaher (Fairview Rangers), Brendan Daly (Pike Rovers), Gary Higgins (Janeboro FC), Colm Smith (Drogheda United).
Transfers Out: Garvan Broughall (Limerick), Austin Skelly (Longford Town), Des Hope (Longford Town), Paddy Collins (Longford Town), Brian McCarthy (Limerick), David Breen (Waterford United), Dean Marshall (UCD), Andy Haran (Monaghan United).
Athlone Town finished 10th in last season’s First Division with a symmetrical 33 points from 33 games. They managed only 34 league goals with almost a third of those scored by the now departed Austin Skelly. At the back they were more resolute conceding 48, with five of those coming against Limerick on the final day of the season.
New boss Mike Kerley has a major job on his hands for 2011 having lost several influential members of last year’s squad. Centre backs Brian McCarthy and Des Hope are gone and Skelly’s loss will be hard to overcome. Most of Athlone’s new signings have come from outside the league. Colm Smith from Drogheda represents the only new face with recent league experience while Tommy Barrett (signed from Fairview Rangers) has previous form with Shamrock Rovers and Limerick.
On the surface Athlone fans have little cause for optimism and 2011 offers Mike Kerley a genuine opportunity to show his management skills. With Shelbourne, Monaghan, Waterford, Cork and Limerick likely to form the top half of the table expect Athlone to be battling among Longford, Finn Harps, and Wexford in mid table.
Extratime Prediction: 9th.
About Simon O'Gorman
Simon O'Gorman began reporting for Extratime in 2010. He remembers Milltown and Flower Lodge and, back in the mists of time, saw Diego Maradona play at Lansdowne Road. He now lives in Co Kildare and … View Full Profile