League Preview: Wexford Youths -v- Athlone Town

• Dave Donnelly
• Fri, Sep 25 2015




WEXFORD YOUTHS

The prize that victory for Wexford Youths over Athlone Town at Ferrycarrig Park on Friday could be the First Division title (kick-off 8pm). Their first senior trophy could be theirs regardless of how second-placed Finn Harps fare against UCD.

 

Youths came from behind to record a second successive victory over the Students last Friday, but Athlone, the last team to beat Youths in a competitive fixture (a 3-1 result in July), will be determined to spoil the party.

 

“We'll go into tonight's games with the kind of confidence that a winning run gives a team,” said Youths coach Shane Keegan. “But it will be a focused confidence. A confidence that we know what we're here to do. We know how we're going to go about it and we're going to deliver.

 

“It will certainly not be the cocky confidence of a team that believes all they have to do is turn up. The last time we played Athlone we were comprehensively beaten and deservedly so. That focuses the mind.

 

“It was our worst performance of the season and yet to a certain extent it was exactly the wake up call that we needed. Add that defeat to Athlone's great current form and there can be no doubt that is going to be one of our biggest challenges of the season.”

 

Aidan Keenan will return from suspension, but there remain question marks over Craig Wall and prolific assist-maker Andy Mulligan, who will face late fitness tests.

 

ATHLONE TOWN      

Athlone Town's unexpected victory over Shelbourne last week brought them back within a point of fifth-placed Cobh Ramblers, however a bottom-half finish of any sort will represent a disastrous season for the 2013 First Division champions.

 

Alan Mathews-led Athlone's most significant contribution to the title race may thus be to keep it alive for at least one more week, should they take a draw or more from their final league trip to Ferrycarrig Park for at least 12 months.

 

Mathews will be without Robbie Gaul for the remainder of the season, while Jamie O'Neill remains a doubt after picking up a knee injury in the FAI Cup quarter-final loss to Sheriff YC.

 

However long-term injury victims Marco Chindea and Brian Shortall have an outside chance of featuring.

 

Referee: Andrew Mullally.

 

MATCH STATS

Wexford Youths and Athlone Town have met three times this season, with Youths holding the upper hand to date.

 

Youths won by 1-0 and 2-0 away and home respectively in the first half of the season, before goals from, before first half goals from Daniel Purdy, Gavin Boyne and Philip Gorman led Athlone to a shock 3-1 win at Lissywollen.

 

BETTING

Wexford Youths 1/3; Draw 10/3; Athlone Town 15/2.

 

PREDICTION

Wexford Youths 3 – 1 Athlone Town

 

Wexford Youths

Injured: Unknown.

Doubtful: Andy Mulligan, Craig Wall.

Suspended: None.

 

Athlone Town

Injured: Robbie Gaul (ankle, leg).

Doubtful: Marco Chindea (foot), Jamie O'Neill (knee), Brian Shortall (shoulder).

Suspended: None.