Athlone Town learn first opponents in new league campaign

Athlone Town's first game in the 2021 SSE Airtricity First Division season will be away to UCD on Friday, March 26.

The fixtures for the 2021 season have been confirmed, with Cork City welcoming local rivals Cobh Ramblers to Turners Cross in the stand-out fixture in the opening round.

Elsewhere, Shelbourne will travel to Eamonn Deacy Park to face Galway United and Wexford welcome Cabinteely.

As with previous seasons, the fixtures have been released before a final decision on licensing and feature a 10-team format for the new campaign with nine teams listed. Therefore, Bray Wanderers' opening round opponents are as yet unknown.

One team in the division is designated as TBC ahead of the outcome of the licensing process later this month, which still involves all candidates. If additional clubs are successful with their application for a First Division licence, and additional teams are granted entry to the First Division, the fixtures will be amended accordingly. All fixtures are subject to change.

Athlone's first home game will be against Galway United on Friday, April 2. This will be followed by a trip to Turners Cross to face Cork City on April 9.

Following a trip to Bray Wanderers (April 16), Athlone will then have two home games against Wexford and Cabinteely.

Shelbourne will up next for Adrian Carberry's charges on May 7, with Athlone's opponents in Series 8 still to be confirmed. By the time Athlone play Cobh Ramblers on May 21, they will have faced all their opponents in the division.

The First Division play-off series is scheduled to begin on Friday, November 5 with two-legged semi-finals ahead of the First Division play-off final on November 19 at a neutral venue. The winner of this match will then face the ninth-placed Premier Division team in the promotion/relegation play-off final at the end of November.

First Division - Series 1 fixtures (March 26)

Cork City v Cobh Ramblers, Turners Cross, 7:45pm

Galway United v Shelbourne, Eamonn Deacy Park, 7:45

UCD v Athlone Town, UCD Bowl, 7:45

Wexford v Cabinteely, Ferrycarrig Park, 8pm

Bray Wanderers v TBC, Carlisle Grounds, 7.30