Athlone Town -v- Limerick FC

ATHLONE TOWN

When the league resumed after the mid-season break Athlone Town were harbouring realistic ambitions of challenging for a promotion play-off spot.
 

The wheels seem to have come off their bid of late as a home draw to Finn Harps and a disappointing away defeat to Mervue United has left them eleven points off third place and looking nervously over their shoulder.

Mick Kerley has brought in a number of new recruits over the last month and these will improve the squad when they have blended in. The friendly defeat to Port Vale mid-week was a useful exercise in accelerating that blending in process.
 

A good result against the new league leaders is imperative for the Midlanders as they would face a winnable tie against Wexford before journeying to face in-form Waterford United in two weeks time.

The manager will be able to pick from virtually a full squad with only the long term injured Paul Danaher absent through injury and the trio of Scott Gaynor, Garvan Broughall and Stephen Relihan not available for selection.
 

LIMERICK

Limerick have claimed the automatic promotion play-off spot with eight wins in their last ten league outings. They now face into the last ten games of the season knowing that they will have to perform to higher level than that which earned them a late victory over bottom club SD Galway last week to hold onto top spot.

They have already triumphed twice over Athlone this season but speaking to the Limerick Leader manager Pat Scully was preparing for a tough battle in Lissywoollen. “Athlone are always a tough proposition whenever they’re at home. We can expect a tough, tight game against them and they showed how tricky they can be when they drew 0-0 with Longford a couple of weeks back.

“They will be tricky opposition so we’ll have to prepare properly and be 100% ready for the game. There are no easy games in this league, as last week showed, and hopefully the players will show the same desire and ethic as they did on Friday night.”
 

Limerick will be without the suspended Joe Gamble and must also do without the injured David O’Leary and Cian Collins. Stephen Bradley, Corrie Tracy and Derek O’Brien are carrying knocks and will be assessed before the game.

Referee: Ray Matthews

MATCH STATS

Limerick won the earlier fixture in Athlone Town Stadium when a Joe Gamble goal was enough to secure victory. They also won the second meeting at home with Rory Gaffney scoring twice in a 2-1 win.
 

Longford and Limerick are joint highest scorers in the league on their travels having amassed nineteen goals while only SD Galway have scored fewer at home than Athlone who have hit the net only eleven times in Lissywoollen.

Limerick have yet to draw in the league this season having won fourteen and drawing four of their eighteen games so far.
 

BETTING

Athlone Town 13/2 Draw 3/1 Limerick FC 2/5

PREDICTION

Athlone Town 1-2 Limerick FC

Athlone Town Injury News: Paul Danaher.

Players Unavailable: Scott Gaynor, Garvan Broughall and Stephen Relihan

Athlone Town Suspension News: None
 

Limerick FC Injury News: David O’Leary, Cian Collins

Limerick FC Suspension News: Joe Gamble