Athlone towns basement battle continues against title chasing cork
Athlone Town continue their fight for survival in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division when they host title contenders Cork City tomorrow night (Friday, kick-off 7.45pm).
As things stand, Athlone Town are bottom of the Premier Division table, five points behind Bray Wanderers and UCD, who are tied on 19 points.
Athlone drew with UCD 1-1 in their most recent league encounter at the Belfield Bowl, a game which was understandably billed as a relegation six-pointer.
UCD took an early lead in that game and although John Mulroy equalised for Athlone, the result merely served to increase the Town’s relegation fears.
If Athlone finish on the last rung of the table, they will be automatically relegated. But if they finish second from bottom, they will have a play-off to preserve their place in the Premier Division.
Athlone recently signed defenders Roddy Collins Jnr - who was part of the squad which clinched promotion from the First Division last season - and Brian Shortall.
Athlone manager Keith Long will be hoping Barry Clancy has recovered from injury to face the Rebels at Lissywollen, while Philly Gorman will be back after missing the UCD game through suspension. However, Eric Foley is suspended for the visit of Cork City.
Cork are managed by Lecarrow native John Caulfield, who has earned plenty of plaudits for how his charges have performed this season. At present, Cork are in second place in the Premier Division, four points behind leaders Dundalk.
Speaking to Extratime.ie about the clash against Athlone, Caulfield said: “It is the biggest game of the season for us because we cannot afford to not perform.”
Cork City were knocked out of the FAI Cup by Bohemians last Monday night, with Dinny Corcoran’s goal giving the Gypsies victory at Dalymount Park and sending them into the quarter-finals.
Reflecting on that Cup exit, Caulfield told Extratime.ie: “It’s annoying to be out of the cup but look it, at the same time, I said to the lads we’ve eight huge games to go (in the league). We’ve nothing bigger than Athlone on Friday night because we’re travelling again. It’s our fifth game in two weeks so it’s hard going, especially with three times travelling on the road.”
“Look it, you can’t feel sorry for yourself. You have to see if you can bounce back and try and turn it around. It’s going to be a very difficult game on Friday night, but as I said to the lads we have a choice. Either get our act together and try and push Dundalk to the end or just flitter away to the end,” he added.
Caulfield hopes to have striker John O’Flynn back from injury for the trip to Athlone
“He hurt his groin and when you hurt your groin you’re out for two weeks and it will be two weeks on Friday night, so hopefully against Athlone he will be back,” Caulfield told Extratime.ie.