League Preview: Athlone Town -v- Galway United

The second series of games gets underway this evening with Galway United making the short trip to Athlone Town Stadium (kick-off 7.45pm).

ATHLONE TOWN

It hasn’t been the best of weeks, months or seasons in general for Athlone Town and in recent days it has got even worse as manager Aaron Callaghan resigned from the club with immediate effect with current coach Terry Butler set to take over as the club’s first team manager for the foreseeable future.

A statement from the club confirmed the news and noted that “the board has reluctantly accepted Aaron’s decision to resign.”

Aaron had earlier said himself that Monday’s Leinster Senior Cup defeat to Shelbourne was “the final straw” with the team having no physio and no warm up gear for the game.

Athlone currently sit stranded to the bottom of the First Division table with just one point on the board from a possible twenty seven and a goal difference of -33 not making for very pleasant reading.

GALWAY UNITED

Galway United got themselves back to winning ways last weekend with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Cobh Ramblers at Eamonn Deacy Park.

In the opening game of the season in this fixture Galway ran out comfortable winners winning 4-1 at home.

Amazingly, Galway have yet to secure an away victory this season and will be hoping to buck that trend this evening as they head into the second series of games.

"It's been frustrating that we haven't had back-to-back victories this season, which has stopped us gaining any real positive momentum”, said Shane Keegan ahead of the game on Friday night.

"When you look at Athlone's league position at the moment, obviously it's a real chance for us to get our first back-to-back victory. That has certainly got to be the aim on Friday.

"Our level of professionalism is of paramount importance. There are quite a few objectives, the prime objective is obviously to pick up the three points and my second objective is to keep another clean sheet.

"I'd state that over scoring a lot of goals, it may not be what supporters want to hear but it's very important, especially when it's the first of three games in seven days.”

Eoin McCormack is back in contention for the away side this evening after missing last week’s victory against Cobh Ramblers.

Danny Furlong is getting over a bout of tonsillitis and will be kept in reserve for a busy week ahead.

Referee: David Dunne

MATCH FACTS

On the opening day of the season between these clubs, Galway United came out on top winning comfortably on a 4-1 score line.

Galway United striker Danny Furlong is third on the list for league top scorer this season to date with seven league goals after nine games.

Galway United are still seeking their first away victory of the season as they head for Athlone this evening.

BETTING

Athlone Town 20/1; Draw 9/1; Galway United 1/18

PREDICTION

Athlone Town 0 - 5 Galway United

Athlone Town

Injured: Unknown

Doubtful: Unknown

Suspended: Unknown

Galway United

Injured: Danny Furlong

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None