Big relegation fight ucd v athlone town
ATHLONE Town must face UCD in a massively important SSE Airtricity League Premier Division basement battle without their top-scorer and stand-in captain.
Both Philly Gorman, who has netted eight times this season, and Alan Byrne, who has skippered the side from an early point in the season due to Aidan Collins’ unavailability through injury, are suspended for the game in Belfield (kick-off: 7.45pm). Byrne would have missed the game anyway, due to a rib injury sustained in the recent defeat against Sligo Rovers. On the plus side, midfielder James O’Brien returns after a one-match suspension.
Athlone will travel to Belfield in fairly positive mood, after Ian Sweeney’s remarkable solo goal earned a share of the spoils against Shamrock Rovers at Lissywollen last Friday (see this week’s Westmeath Independent for match report). A draw against Shamrock Rovers moved Athlone to within five points of fellow relegation candidates UCD and Bray Wanderers. Tonight’s fixture is the first of nine remaining league matches for Athlone, as they strive to maintain Premier Division status.
John Mulroy, a second half substitute against Shamrock Rovers, would seem the most likely replacement for Gorman, though Sam O’Connor, who netted on his debut a few weeks ago, could also be considered for selection by the Town boss Keith Long, who himself serves the second game of a two-match touchline ban this evening. Sweeney’s moment of class last Friday could also push him into Long’s thoughts for a starting role against the Students, who are likely to include Athlone natives Robbie Benson and Tom O’Halloran in their side.
Athlone will be without the injured Barry Clancy, Stephen Quigley and Graham Rusk for the trip to UCD, with the latter pair thought unlikely to feature again this season. Clancy should return to the squad for the hosting of Cork City on Friday, August 29. Club captain Aidan Collins is also recovering well after recent shoulder surgery and it’s expected the centre-back will play some part for Athlone in the closing five or six weeks of the season.
Manager Keith Long confirmed after the Shamrock Rovers match that left-back Sean Byrne has left the club due to work commitments. Roddy Collins Jnr, who was a regular fixture in his father’s Athlone side that won the First Division last season, has rejoined the club and was on the bench for last Friday’s draw with Shamrock Rovers. Brian Shortall, a 29 year-old former UCD, St Patrick’s Athletic and Shelbourne defender, has also joined Athlone’s fight for Premier Division survival and could come into the reckoning against his former club this evening.
Manager Keith Long, speaking after the Shamrock Rovers game, said: “UCD are always tricky opponents but we have to go there with a positive mindset and try to win the game. It’s important for us to bridge the gap to UCD and Bray Wanderers. We need to be positive and we go there in a reasonably positive frame of mind after drawing with a good Shamrock Rovers side.”