Double blow for Athlone but several players sign for 2023
There has been mixed news on the transfer front for Athlone Town recently with both the men’s squad and the women’s squad losing a key player.
Thomas Oluwa and Jessica Hennessy have both departed Athlone for pastures new. On the plus side, however, several players have re-signed for the 2023 season.
Defensive ace Jessica Hennessy has left Athlone Town to join Shamrock Rovers in what is a significant blow for Tommy Hewitt’s plans for next season.
Hennessy was a highly influential figure as Athlone Town finished second in the Women’s National League, also reaching the FAI Women’s Cup final where they lost out to Shelbourne.
The Westmeath native was chosen on the SSE Airtricity WNL Team of the Year in recognition of her performances throughout the season.
Also a talented Gaelic footballer, Hennessy has represented Westmeath LGFA at all levels and she began her soccer career with Mullingar Athletic.
A former Shelbourne player, Hennessy said: “I am really excited to be joining Shamrock Rovers. I am looking forward to a new challenge with the club.
“Rovers is a perfect fit for me; they are very professional club and I think it’s the right time for me to move forward in my career and embark on a new journey for the 2023 season,” added the 21-year-old.
Shamrock Rovers manager Collie O’Neill said: “Jessica has had an exceptional year; she is a commanding and dominant centre-half and also has the great ability of being able to step-in when in possession. She is a young, hungry player and I believe that she has a great future ahead of her.”
Meanwhile, Waterford FC has announced the signing of striker Thomas Oluwa from Athlone Town ahead of the 2023 season.
Oluwa (21), who was Athlone’s top scorer in the 2022 season with 11 goals, becomes Danny Searle’s first signing ahead of the new campaign.
The striker started his League of Ireland career with Shamrock Rovers, before spells with Bohemians, Galway United, and Irish Premier side Larne.
Disappointment in the Athlone camp at the loss of Oluwa will be tempered by the fact that centre-half Aaron McBride, attacking midfielder Valerii Dolia and goalkeeper Vlad Velikin have re-signed for the 2023 season.
In addition, goalkeeper Enda Minogue, Charles Mutawe, Aaron Connolly, Adam Lennon (son of joint Athlone manager Dermot Lennon) and Patrick Hickey have returned for the 2023 season.
Turning back to the Athlone Town women’s squad, defender Fiona Owens (who missed large parts of the 2022 season through injury) and goalkeeper Ciara Glackin have signed back on for the 2023 season.
This news follows confirmation that American duo Madison Gibson and Dana Scheriff will again be part of the Athlone squad next season.
Gibson made a major impact after joining Athlone midway through the 2022 season, and she scored a sensational hat-trick in the FAI Women’s Cup semi-final victory over Wexford Youths.
Scheriff suffered a serious ankle injury which kept her on the sidelines for most of the season. “Thankfully she has come through the surgery and will be pulling on her boots again at the start of the 2023 season,” Athlone Town AFC posted online.
*See here for separate article on Jessica Hennessy's move from Athlone Town to Shamrock Rovers.