Athlone Town -v- Finn Harps
Credit:
Lisseywoollen stages it’s first league game of the 2011 season on
Saturday evening as Athlone Town host Finn Harps in the Airtricity
First Division. (Kick off 7.30 pm)
Athlone, under new manager Mike Kerley, have had a promising start to a season in which many expected the Midlands club to struggle. Short of several key players from last year, and subject to a miniscule budget with which to replace them, Kerley has filled out his squad with youngsters from the club’s under age sides and a few recruits from Junior football.
Much to the surprise of neutral observers the blend has worked well with Athlone earning a point from their opening day encounter with fancied Waterford United at the RSC, along with an impressive 2-1 win over Premier Division UCD in the Leinster Senior Cup.
Finn Harps, meanwhile, opened their season with a bruising 2-2 draw against Limerick FC at Finn Park. Little can be drawn from a single game in terms of indications for the year ahead but Limerick are among the favourites for promotion and that result may yet prove to be a respectable one.
But if last season is anything to go by it is Harps’ away form that will decide whether they have anything to do with the promotion race themselves. Eleven defeats from fifteen away games in 2010 is a record that boss James Gallagher will be determined to improve on and a win at places like Athlone, regardless of their promising start, will be considered a must.
Gallagher will be without Mark Forker who is suspended following his sending off last weekend and he will also be without Garbhan Friel. “Garbhan got some bad news regarding his injury at the start of the week, so he is going to be out for the next five to six months. It’s a blow to not only us, but the player as well”, said Gallagher.
Kerley, for his part, will be aware that if he is to engineer any kind of wriggle room in his budget then the local crowd need to be lured through the turnstiles. Giving a chance to exciting young local players is a smart move in that respect, even if it is necessity. Offering the fans a few home wins, particularly in these early days of hope and optimism, would also help.
The smart money for this tie would have to be on a win for Harps but perhaps the truly wise might opt to keep their money in their pocket as this Athlone Town side might prove to be more effective than previously expected.
Athlone Town
Injured: Unavailable.
Doubtful: Unavailable.
Suspended: Unavailable.
Finn Harps
Injured: Garbhan Friel (knee).
Doubtful: Ciaran Coll (knee), Packie Mailey (chest infection).
Suspended: Mark Forker.
Paddy Power Odds: Athlone 2/1 - Draw 9/4 - Finn Harps 6/5.
Extratime prediction: A 2-1 away win for Harps.
Athlone, under new manager Mike Kerley, have had a promising start to a season in which many expected the Midlands club to struggle. Short of several key players from last year, and subject to a miniscule budget with which to replace them, Kerley has filled out his squad with youngsters from the club’s under age sides and a few recruits from Junior football.
Much to the surprise of neutral observers the blend has worked well with Athlone earning a point from their opening day encounter with fancied Waterford United at the RSC, along with an impressive 2-1 win over Premier Division UCD in the Leinster Senior Cup.
Finn Harps, meanwhile, opened their season with a bruising 2-2 draw against Limerick FC at Finn Park. Little can be drawn from a single game in terms of indications for the year ahead but Limerick are among the favourites for promotion and that result may yet prove to be a respectable one.
But if last season is anything to go by it is Harps’ away form that will decide whether they have anything to do with the promotion race themselves. Eleven defeats from fifteen away games in 2010 is a record that boss James Gallagher will be determined to improve on and a win at places like Athlone, regardless of their promising start, will be considered a must.
Gallagher will be without Mark Forker who is suspended following his sending off last weekend and he will also be without Garbhan Friel. “Garbhan got some bad news regarding his injury at the start of the week, so he is going to be out for the next five to six months. It’s a blow to not only us, but the player as well”, said Gallagher.
Kerley, for his part, will be aware that if he is to engineer any kind of wriggle room in his budget then the local crowd need to be lured through the turnstiles. Giving a chance to exciting young local players is a smart move in that respect, even if it is necessity. Offering the fans a few home wins, particularly in these early days of hope and optimism, would also help.
The smart money for this tie would have to be on a win for Harps but perhaps the truly wise might opt to keep their money in their pocket as this Athlone Town side might prove to be more effective than previously expected.
Athlone Town
Injured: Unavailable.
Doubtful: Unavailable.
Suspended: Unavailable.
Finn Harps
Injured: Garbhan Friel (knee).
Doubtful: Ciaran Coll (knee), Packie Mailey (chest infection).
Suspended: Mark Forker.
Paddy Power Odds: Athlone 2/1 - Draw 9/4 - Finn Harps 6/5.
Extratime prediction: A 2-1 away win for Harps.
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