Busy weekend of soccer action locally
In weekend soccer action, Athlone Town travel to Midland rivals Longford Town on Saturday night, hoping to build on their first point of the season on Monday.
Adrian Carberry’s men got off the mark in the league with a 2-2 draw away to Galway United on Monday and will be aiming to build on that performance in the Midlands derby.
Longford Town for their part are off the back of a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Bray Wanderers and will be eager to get their promotion challenge back on track.
Kick off in Bishopsgate, Longford, is at 7.30pm. However, only Longford Town season ticket holders will be permitted entry.
Longford Town is providing a live stream of the game. For details see www.ltfc.ie.
Meanwhile, in Leinster Senior League action, Willow Park’s game against Drumcondra in DPD Park, Athlone, on Saturday night, at 7pm will be a key fixture in the promotion hunt from Senior Division 1A.
Willow dropped two important points last time out, when an injury time goal gave ten-men Dublin Bus a 2-2 draw in Athlone.
At the time, it looked like it might hamper Willow’s promotion push, but one of Willow’s closest challengers, Portlaoise, have lost three in a row since lockdown.
Willow Park are currently in the third and final promotion spot and a victory on Saturday night would put them in good stead ahead of a pivotal game away to Portlaoise shortly.
West of the Shannon, Ballinasloe Town travel to Wesport United for a Connacht Cup quarter-final clash at 2pm on Sunday.
In CCFL action, the exciting end to the title race in the top division will continue on Sunday, when title chasers Derry Rovers travel to Ballinahown (11am).
Derry Rovers trail Birr Town by three points with two games remaining, whilst Birr have only a single league game to play.
If both sides win their remaining games, it will result in a play-off.
Monksland remain mathematically in the shake up but will be depending on Birr dropping points in their final game away to Clara Town as well as doing their own bit by beating Derry Rovers away.
In Counties Cup action, Temple Villa host Moydow FC in TP Hickey Park in a quarter final clash at 11am on Sunday, while Willow Park ladies are away to league champions Killeigh at 2pm on Sunday in the Women’s Cup semi final.
Willow Park’s Under 19s are in cup semi final action at home to Under 19 league champions Edenderry Town on Saturday at 2.30pm.
And two Athlone clubs are represented in the Under 17 cup semi finals; Willow, who won the league, are away to Birr Town, whilst Monksland United travel to Mullingar Athletic. Kick off in both games is 2.30pm.