FAI Cup Preview: Athlone Town -v- Letterkenny Rovers

• Gareth O'Reilly
• Fri, May 20 2016




Athlone welcome one of the FAI Cup’s remaining non-league sides as Letterkenny Rovers make the trip to the midlands. Kick-off is set for 19:45.

 

ATHLONE TOWN

Athlone will be hoping that after Saturday evening’s game people are not left talking about the beauty of the Cup and that they are instead safely through to Round 3 of the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup.

 

Athlone come into this Cup game on the back of a three nil hammering at the hands of the rampant Limerick, before that Alan Mathews side had suffered 2-1 defeats to both Drogheda United and Shelbourne with their last win coming almost a month ago at home to Cabinteely.

 

Manager Mathews will however be pleased that his side go into this game without injury or suspension concerns.

 

 

LETTERKENNY ROVERS

The Intermediate side may well pose a challenge in this tie for their hosts and will be travelling down confident that if they perform well they could cause a massive cup upset against their First Division opposition.

 

Letterkenny are entering this game having suffered a large defeat in the FAI Intermediate Cup at the hands of Crumlin United. A 5-0 defeat, not exactly what their travelling supporters might have hoped for on their trip down to the Aviva Stadium.

 

Referee: John McLoughlin

 

 

MATCH STATS

Athlone’s only win in this competition since 2009 occurred last year when they overcame non-league Liffey Wanderers.

 

In 2013 Athlone were eliminated from the FAI Cup by non-league opponents, as Bluebell United beat them at home 3-2 in a replay after the original game finished 2-2.

 

Letterkenny beat Portmarnock in the last round of the competition via a replay after the original fixture had ended 1-1, Rovers took the game back up home winning out 2-1.

 

 

BETTING

Athlone Town 4/3; Draw 3/1; Letterkenny Rovers 6/1.

 

PREDICTION

Athlone Town 1-1 Letterkenny Rovers

 

 

Athlone Town

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

 

Letterkenny Rovers

Injured: Unknown.

Doubtful: Unknown.

Suspended: None.