Preview | Athlone at home

Tonight sees the battle of two sides well in the hunt for the First Division play-off spots as Ramblers in third entertain fifth place Athlone.

Both clubs come into the tie on the back of defeats, Cobh going down 5-0 at Waterford while the Midlanders were defeated 3-2 by Kerry in what was the Kingdom’s first ever LOI win. As such a reaction from both camps is expected as the season starts to really take shape.

The pair have already met in Lissywoolen this season, where Athlone were 2-0 victors on a disappointing night for the Rams. The sides’ four meetings in 2022 yielded two victories apiece, and 21 goals across the games. This year Athlone and Cobh are the third and fourth highest scorers in the league respectively so
plenty more goals may be on the cards tonight.

The Rams remain without a number of names through injury, with Jack Doherty, Pierce Phillips, Issa Kargbo and Cian Browne all still sidelined. Liam Kervick should return however, having been ineligible for the Waterford tie.

Manager Shane Keegan spoke this week about the fixture,

“Our away game with Athlone was our poorest display of the season. There weren’t any positives to take that night. They’re a strong side and the more I look at them the more I’m impressed. They have some
fantastic players that maybe aren’t too well-known. If we are anything below 100% tonight we won’t get any points. It’s been an excellent week at training and you have to be hopeful of taking something.”

Kick-off in St Colman’s Park is at 19:45, with the game also live on LOITV.