Preview: Athlone Town vs Kildare County

• Dave Dibble
• Thu, Mar 06 2008




After all of last seasons on and off field problems Athlone shall be looking forward to putting it all behind them when they get this seasons campaign up and running this evening at Lissywollen. Kildare County provide the opposition

Manager Dermot Lennon has been busy putting together his squad for the season ahead. The general feeling is that it will take at least a season before they can be thinking of anything but stabilising the club. Lennon seems to have a thing for open football - if pre season is any judge. The small but hardcore support have been waiting a long time for anything to get excited over

Lennon will have close to a full squad to pick from for tonight's game. New signing from Sligo Levi Tierney and Dave ODowd have both been injured of late and are rated as doubtful

Full back Ian Rossiter has looked back to his best in recent friendlies. Robbie Hamm has also impressed. Lennon will be looking for experienced players Dave ODowd(if fit) and Davy Byrne to shine

Kildare have had nine players leave the club since the end of last season. Manager John Ryan has brought in six new players in total. The most recent of these are former Kilkenny City centre back Willie Tyrrell and John Brophy. Brophy was on loan last season at Shelbourne but didnt feature too often after picking up an early season ankle injury. He can play in defence or in attack.

Ciaran Kilduff is on loan from Shamrock Rovers. He will be looking to make a name for himself and persuade Rovers manager that he has a future at the Premier Division side.

Following the departure of Philip Byrne to new side Sporting Fingal, striker Phillip Hughes has been named captain for the coming season. Kick off at Lissywollen is at 7pm