Athlone Town central midfielder Hannah Waesch will be hoping to build upon an impressive first season with the club when the new league season starts on March 14

Athlone Town start defence of title with Sligo trip

Ronan Fagan

Published: Tue 16 Dec 2025, 1:04 PM

The Athlone Town women's first team will start the defence of their Premier Division title with an away fixture against Sligo Rovers in The Showgrounds on Saturday, March 14, at 5pm.

The team then welcome DLR Waves to the Athlone Town Stadium on Saturday, March 21, at 7.30pm, for their first home game of the campaign.

Fixtures for the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division, Men’s Premier Division and First Division were released this morning (Tuesday), the 2026 league season now mapped out before the reigning champions.

Treaty United, now managed by former Athlone Town captain, Laurie Ryan, visit Lissywollen on Saturday, May 16, the game kicking off at 7.30pm.

Meanwhile, the reigning champions first encounter with 2025 title rivals Shelbourne will take place in the Athlone Town Stadium on Saturday, June 27, at 7.30pm, with the return league game scheduled for Saturday, October 17, at 4pm.

Athlone complete their 22 game league season with a home fixture against Cork City on Saturday, October 24, at 5pm.

The double winning Athlone Town women's team will start the 2026 season with a home President's Cup fixture against Shelbourne.

The curtain raiser to the Premier Division and FAI Cup champion's season will take place in the Athlone Town Stadium on Sunday, March 8, at 2pm.

The full fixture schedule can be viewed at https://athlonetownafc.ie/2026-fixtures.

Meanwhile, the double winning champions have been nominated for the RTÉ Sport 'Team of the Year' in recognition of their double winning achievements during the 2025 season.

The club have been nominated alongside the Dublin women's gaelic football team, Tipperary senior hurling team, Kerry men's senior gaelic football team, the Galway senior camogie team, Katie-George Dunley and Linda Kelly of the Irish Paracycling team and Shamrock Rovers men's team.

The 'Team of the Year' will be announced live on the RTÉ Sports Awards programme presented by Joanne Cantwell, Darragh Maloney and David Gillick on RTÉ One on Saturday night from 8.05pm.