Foley could feature as athlone continue preseason in longford

ATHLONE Town’s pre-season preparations continue tonight (Tuesday) against close rivals Longford Town (City Calling Stadium, 7.45pm).

Over the last number of years, Athlone and Longford had some ding-dong battles in the Airtricity League First Division. Athlone supporters will remember fondly a 1-0 win recorded in the City Calling Stadium in the 2013 season, along the way to the Town winning the First Division title.

Since then, however, things have changed dramatically. Now, Longford Town are a Premier Division side, while Athlone are back in the First Division having suffered relegation from the top-flight in 2014.

Athlone have started their pre-season campaign in impressive fashion, beating Cork City 4-1 before a scoreless draw at Shamrock Rovers last weekend. Tonight’s match will give manager Eddie Wallace further indication about how his new-look squad is shaping up ahead of the start of the First Division season on March 6, when Athlone travel to Waterford Utd.

Tonight’s squad is likely to contain midfielder Eric Foley, who re-signed for the club at the weekend having impressed in the Town engine room in the latter part of the 2014 season. Foley provides huge experience to the Athlone midfield and his addition to the squad is seen as a real boost to Athlone’s hopes of competing for promotion in 2015.

The match tonight will also see several players coming up against their former club. Paul Skinner, who helped Athlone win the First Division in 2013, has joined Longford, while the red and blacks midfielder Mark Salmon also played for Athlone in the past. Graham Lawlor, who was Roddy Collins’ assistant when Athlone won the 2013 First Division, is second-in-command to Tony Cousins with Longford.
The Athlone squad will contain former Longford players Aidan Collins and Daniel Purdy, while Athlone’s goalkeeper coach Chris Bennion, who was on the bench for last weekend’s friendly against Shamrock Rovers, was a Longford player for two seasons from 2013.

After tonight’s match, Athlone will renew acquintances with former boss Keith Long, when the Town take on Bohemians in a friendly at Dalymount Park next Sunday, February 15 (2pm). Athlone’s pre-season schedule then takes them to Galway Utd on February 21, before a Leinster Senior Cup clash against Shamrock Rovers in Athlone on February 24.