League Preview: Shelbourne -v- Athlone Town
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Tolka Park plays host to a top of the table clash on Friday night as Shelbourne welcome Athlone Town to the capital. Kick-off on Richmond Road is at 8pm and any supporter who produces a valid Polish passport will be entitled to a ticket for €10 instead of €15 as part of the Polska-Éire Festival.
SHELBOURNE
Kevin Doherty will be delighted with how his managerial career has begun; his team has three wins from four in all competitions and hasn’t conceded a goal yet this season.
The Reds followed a scoreless draw against Finn Harps up with three straight 1-0 victories away from home against Drogheda United, U.C.D. and Cabinteely respectively. ‘Doc’ will also be relieved that marksman Philly Hughes has found the scoresheet early this season, as Shels’ inability to get goals from their forwards proved a defining factor in their failure to achieve promotion in 2014.
Many would expect Shelbourne to stick with the 4-5-1 formation that has proven successful so far this campaign, albeit without big names such as Jordan Keegan and Gareth Coughlan, who spent the last two games on the bench. Another notable absentee of late has been striker Manuel Rodriguez, who found the net in a friendly against Newbridge Town on Monday night but the Spaniard has yet to make a competitive appearance in the famous red shirt.
ATHLONE TOWN
Recently relegated Athlone Town have also had a relativly positive start to their 2015 season, with two league wins from three and a League Cup defeat to Bohemians. Eddie Wallace’s side started the season with a 1-1 draw at the R.S.C. before beating Cobh Ramblers 4-0 and U.C.D. 2-1 in successive weeks.
The Town has also relied on the production of a well-known goalscorer to this point; ex-Shelbourne striker Philly Gorman, who contributed with two late goals last Friday as the Midlanders came from behind to take all three points from Belfield.
Athlone currently sit top of the table on goal difference thanks to their big win in Cork but Finn Harps and Shels both have the same number of points as The Town. Eddie Wallace will be hoping his team can open up a gap between themselves and the pre-season promotion favourites this Friday before another tough test next Friday as they welcome Wexford Youths to Lissywollen.
Referee: Simon Rogers
MATCH STATS
The last meeting between these two sides came in the 2013 Leinster Senior Cup, when Seán Brennan netted twice as Shels beat Athlone 3-1. Shelbourne have won their previous six games against The Town, with the last draw coming on April 10th, 2010, when the two clubs played out a scoreless draw at Lissywollen.
Playing Athlone in Tolka Park will bring back fond memories for Shels fans, in April 2007 the then-champions of Ireland, who boasted a team of amateurs which was assembled overnight, recorded their first victory of what was a difficult season for the Drumcondra club.
BETTING
Shelbourne 6/5; Draw 11/5; Athlone 2/1
PREDICTION
Shelbourne 1-0 Athlone Town
Shelbourne
Injured:Paul Andrews, Simon Dixon, Dylan McGlade.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended:None.
International Duty:Seán Heaney.
Athlone Town
Injured: None.
Doubtful: Brian Shortall.
Suspended: None.
