League Preview: Shamrock Rovers -v- Athlone Town

• Macdara Ferris
• Sat, May 17 2014




SHAMROCK ROVERS 

Saturday night sees Shamrock Rovers with a shot of going top of the SSE Airtricity League as their second series of league games for the season begins in Tallaght Stadium against Athlone Town (kick off 7pm). A victory will send them top and Trevor Croly’s men will look to build on their 1-0 win and dominating performance in the Brandywell last week, a defeat for Derry which precipitated the departure of their manager Roddy Collins.

 

Having played English Premier League runners up Liverpool mid-week in the Aviva, Rovers’ home match against Athlone was moved back to this Saturday night to give them more preparation time. That lucrative friendly game for the Hoops in Lansdowne Road saw the Dublin team’s support dwarfed on the night by fans of Liverpool but tonight the home support will outnumber the away supporters in Tallaght.

 

“Athlone Town have had a long time to prepare for this game, especially with their game against Sligo being postponed last week,” said Rovers boss Trevor Croly. “Keith (Long) will have his team well organised, so it could be a difficult game for us. The mentality will have to be right on the night in order to get the three points.”

 

The Hoops will have to do without the experience of Shane Robinson (suspended) and Conor Kenna (hamstring).

 

ATHLONE TOWN

While “You’ll never walk alone” was aired in the Aviva on Wednesday from Shamrock Rovers’ opposition fans, it may well be “You’ll never beat Athlone” being sung by the away supporters fans in Tallaght tonight. Having attained their first point of the season in their last league outing and had a break from action last weekend, Athlone fans will be hoping their team can catch the Hoops with tired legs after the Rovers game in Lansdowne Road last Wednesday evening.

 

After that 0-0 home draw with Bray, Keith Long’s team will be raring to go after their free weekend due to Sligo Rovers’ participation in the Setanta Cup final in Tallaght last week. The Midlanders now face three games over the next six days, with the rearrangement match against the Bit O’Red coming up next Tuesday.

 

Athlone began their first season in 18 years in the top flight of the League of Ireland with a home game against Rovers at the start of March that the away side won 4-1. That was the start of a run of ten consecutive league defeats but everyone at the club will hope they have turned a corner in their season following the draw in Keith Long’s first game in charge.

 

Top goalscorer Philly Gorman, with four goals for Athlone, is a major injury concern for the Midlanders this evening as he picked up a hamstring injury in the pre-match warm up in Bray. Aidan Collins is definitely not available as he continues to struggle with a shoulder problem. Sean Byrne is also not involved in the match day squad having received an additional one match ban following his red card against Dundalk.

 

Referee: David McKeon.

 

 

MATCH STATS

This is Athlone Town’s first league visit to Tallaght. The two sides have met competitively in the Dublin venue before though, with Rovers winning 4-0 in the 2011 edition of the FAI Cup. The last time the two teams played each other in the league was a First Division game in 2006 when Rovers won 2-0 with goals from Ray Kenny and former Athlone player Andy Myler.

 

Athlone’s last league victory over Shamrock Rovers was back in the 1995/96 season when goals from Tommy Gaynor and Warren Parkes earned the Midlanders a 2-0 win over the Hoops in St. Mel’s Park.

 

Gary McCabe got the winning goal for Shamrock Rovers in the Brandywell last week. That was his fourth league goal of the campaign, one behind Rovers top scorer Ciarán Kilduff. McCabe missed a penalty on his last outing in Tallaght, a 1-1 against Limerick, in a game where he made his 200^th League of Ireland appearance.

 

 

BETTING

Rovers 1/7; Draw 6/1; Athlone Town 16/1.

 

PREDICTION

2-0 home win for the Hoops.

 

 

Shamrock Rovers

Injured: Conor Kenna.
Suspended: Shane Robinson.

 

Athlone Town

Injured: Aidan Collins.
Doubtful: Philly Gormam.
Suspended: Sean Byrne.