Athlone Town -v- Salthill Devon
Credit:
ATHLONE TOWN
It has been a solid start for the Midlanders under the stewardship of Roddy Collins as they remain unbeaten in the league with two draws and an away win over Wexford Youths under their belt after three games.
The visit of Salthill Devon to Lissywoollen will be Athlone’s third home game of the season and represents a great chance to keep pace with the early pace setters before a tricky away tie with Waterford United a week later.
Collins will be without the services of Barry Clancy who serves an additional one match suspension for his sending off in Wexford while team captain Aidan Collins looks set to miss out having damaged his ankle in last weekend’s draw against Cobh.
Crowd favourite, Noel McGee, is in line for a return - after what the club website reports as “wise words” from Roddy – and there is no doubt a fit and focussed McGee would give the side some much needed added fire power to supplement recent arrival Philly Gorman from Shelbourne.
SALTHILL DEVON
On the surface things look bad for Tony Mannion as they prop up the division with no wins from three while conceding nine goals and scoring only two.
Look a little deeper, however, and it’s not all doom and gloom at Drom as, despite shipping five goals against in form Longford Town, they were competitive in their 2-1 defeat to table topping Mervue and hugely unlucky to concede a 91st minute winner to Wexford Youths their last time out.
Coach John Brennan told Extratime that the players have not let their heads drop after the heartbreaking defeat against Wexford and are up for the challenge of getting a good result in Athlone.
“The players realise that we really need a win in Athlone and that they can deliver it if can cut out the mistakes”
Salthill will have to do without Jamie McGlynn as he is suspended after last week’s sending off. Also unavailable is last week’s goal-scorer, Eugene Greaney, as he is away, while club skipper Brian Geraghty has not fully recovered from the flu.
Referee: Alan Sherlock.
MATCH STATS
The sides have met 10 times in the league with Athlone winning six including three of the four played last season.
SD got their only victory over Athlone in August 2012 when goals from Eugene Greaney, Brian Gaffney and Mixie Harty gave them a 3-0 victory at Drom.
The two teams were the lowest scorers in last season’s campaign with Athlone bagging 25 goals and Salthill Devon hitting the net only 23 times.
BETTING
Athlone Town 4/11; Draw 3/1; Salthill Devon 7/1.
PREDICTION
Athlone Town 2-1 Salthill Devon.
Athlone Town
Injured: Aidan Collins.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Barry Clancy.
Salthill Devon
Injured: Brian Geraghty, Eugene Greaney.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Jamie McGlynn.
