Athlone and Bluebell tie evokes eighties memories
THE draw for the second round of the 2013 FAI Ford Cup - made in Dublin last night (Monday) - will take many Athlone Town followers on a trip down memory lane.
Westlife crooner Nicky Byrne and Athlone native Paddy McCaul (the President of the FAI) made the draw live on RTE’s MNS programme on Monday night, and pitted Athlone against Leinster Senior League outfit and this year’s FAI Umbro Intermediate Cup finalists, Bluebell Utd.
It will be the first time that Athlone have played against non-league opposition in the FAI Cup since defeating Donegal club, Buncrana Hearts, at St Mel’s Park back in 1988.
However, for some observers, the meeting of Athlone and Bluebell (scheduled to take place on the weekend of June 2) will evoke memories of a meeting between the sides in the opening round of the cup in 1982. On that occasion, goals by Larry Wyse and Eddie Byrne gave Athlone a 2-0 victory over the Leinster Senior League side. For those interested, the current Athlone manager, Roddy Collins, was not part of that particular Athlone team (he joined the Town a year later). For the record, Athlone were eliminated in the next round against Bohemians, but later that season, Athlone would go on to win a second League of Ireland title in three years (under the guidance of Turlough O’Connor).
Bluebell, meanwhile, will be familiar to plenty of local football enthusiasts, having beaten St Peter’s 1-0 at Lissywollen in the first round of the FAI Ford Cup in 2009. They also performed credibly in the 2010 FAI Ford Cup, beating St Michael’s (Tipperary) before drawing with Cork City and only losing the replay 1-0. They are due to play Avondale Utd in the FAI Umbro Intermediate Cup final on May 12 in Dublin, as they attempt to deny Avondale a third Intermediate Cup title on the bounce.
Bluebell are currently in third place in the Leinster Senior League but the draw will undoubtedly have some Athlone supporters dreaming of getting a decent cup run under Roddy Collins.
In recent years, the opening round draw has not been kind to Athlone, who have suffered away defeats to Cork City (2012), Shamrock Rovers and Sligo Rovers. Athlone last won a second round game in 2009, under Brendan Place, when they defeated Kildare County at Station Road 2-1 (goals scored by Stephen Place and Brian Cleary).
In 2006, the now assistant manager, Michael O’Connor, was at the helm as Athlone beat Galway Utd in the second round and then progressed to the quarter-finals before losing to Shamrock Rovers in a televised and well-attended fixture at Dubarry Park (the home ground of the Buccaneers Rugby Football Club).
Athlone has had a long wait for FAI Cup success, having experienced their only cup victory way back in 1924 when they beat Fordsons in the final.
2013 FAI Ford Cup Second Round Draw
Tolka Rovers v College Corinthians
St Patrick’s Athletic v UCD
Bray Wanderers v Mervue Utd
Bohemians v Drogheda United
Bluebell Utd v Athlone Town
Glenville v Limerick
Finn Harps v Wexford Youths
Waterford Utd v Sligo Rovers
Salthill Devon v Shamrock Rovers
St Patrick’s CY v Cobh Ramblers
Shelbourne v Bandon
Cork City v Kilbarrack Utd
Blarney Utd v Derry City
Longford Town v Pike Rovers
Phoenix v Dundalk
Avondale Utd v Sheriff YC.