League Preview: Drogheda United -v- Athlone Town

• Dave Donnelly
• Sat, Jun 08 2019




DROGHEDA UNITED

Drogheda United welcome Athlone Town to United Park knowing a win could be enough to see them top of the First Division come the end of the night (kick-off 5pm).

Tim Clancy’s side sit third in the league, two points behind league leaders Shelbourne and one behind Longford Town.

With Shelbourne facing a tough trip to Bray Wanderers earlier in the day, and Longford hosting Wexford later on, three points will help to keep the pressure on.

Drogheda fought back from a goal down to beat Wexford 2-1 at Ferrycarrig Park last week to make it four league wins on the bounce.

Danny Furlong fired the home side in front after 15 minutes but two goals in five minutes from Luke McNally and Jake Hyland saw the Drogs turn it around.

“I was delighted with it [the win against Wexford],” Clancy told the club’s media team.

“I was delighted with James Clarke and Luke Heeney especially. Both of them were playing out of position, they prefer to be played centrally.

“We’ve picked up a few injuries but that’s what the lads are there for. They done very well. It’s a very difficult place to go.

“We dropped points down there last year, the second time we played down there, later on in the season, a 0-0 game.

“Last week, it wasn’t our best performance of the season, but really really pleased we dug out a win and got the three points.”

Clancy is wary of the threat posed by Athlone after Terry Butler’s side pushed them close last time out despite playing much of the game with ten men.

“They have some good players. We know the quality Kealan [Dillon] has and [Dean] Williams up top, great movement and he can finish so we’re going to have to be at it.

“We’ve got to be at it. It’s an opportunity for us to go and do well and get another three points.”

Drogheda are without long-term injury victim Adam Wixted, while top scorer Mark Doyle and Thomas Byrne are also sidelined.

Paul Skinner, Mark Hughes and Stephen Meaney, who scored a hat-trick against Athlone last time out, are all doubtful.

ATHLONE TOWN

Athlone Town picked up just their second point in 11 games when they held Limerick to a 1-1 draw at Lissywollen last Friday.

Kealan Dillon had given Terry Butler’s side the lead midway through the first half before Conor Ellis salvaged a point for Limerick after the break.

The result leaves Athlone second-from-bottom, just three points above Wexford with 15 games played.

Athlone Town do not provide team news and the league has not issued a list of suspensions.

One player who will be missing, however, is Eóghan Morgan after he signed for American side Reading United during the week.

Referee: Tomás Connolly.

MATCH STATS

The sides’ only other meeting this season was an entertaining encounter that finished with Drogheda on the winning side of an eight-goal scoreline.

Stephen Meaney scored a hat-trick for the Boynesiders against an Athlone side who were reduced to ten men when defender Ciaran Grogan was dismissed.

BETTING

Drogheda United 1/6; Draw 5/1; Athlone Town 9/1.

PREDICTION

Drogheda United 2 – 1 Athlone Town

Drogheda United

Injured: Thomas Byrne, Mark Doyle (hand), Adam Wixted (leg).

Doubtful: Mark Hughes, Stephen Meaney, Paul Skinner.

Suspended: None.

Athlone Town

Injured: Unavailable.

Doubtful: Unavailable.

Suspended: Unavailable.