Athlone Town men's team travel to Limerick in great early season form

Can Athlone Town FC continue its refreshingly surprising start to the season?

That's the question on the lips of many local soccer supporters, as the Town travel to face Treaty Utd on Friday evening (Markets Field, 7.45pm).

Ian Ryan's Athlone side have amassed ten points from the opening five games of the 2026 campaign, managing to overcome a difficult first half against Cobh Ramblers last weekend before triumphing, 2-0, thanks to goals from Patrick 'Dixie' Ferry and Aaron Connolly.

That impressive result maintained Athlone's upward trajectory for the season and they currently sit in second-place in the First Division table, only behind red-hot title favourites Cork City, who have 13 points.

Athlone were buoyed to welcome back midfielder Aaron Maloney last weekend which enabled Ian Ryan to restore what seems to be his preferred midfield three of Connolly, Maloney and Brian McManus. Defender James Crawford is unlikely to make it back from injury for Friday's game but veteran goalkeeper Brendan Clarke might have a chance of returning having missed the Cobh game through injury.

Clarke, however, could have a battle to retain his regular starting berth after local goalkeeper Andrew Stuart-Trainor stepped into the breach against Ramblers and performed extremely well.

In fact, Stuart-Trainor was among four Athlone players selected on last week's SSE Airtricity First Division Team of the Week alongside Connolly, Ferry and left-back Kyle O'Connor, who has also enjoyed a fruitful start to the season in the Athlone defence.

Treaty Utd made the promotion play-offs last season and continue to be managed by former Athlone defender Tommy Barrett. Included in his squad are ex-Athlone players Ben Feeney, Jason Oyenuga and recent recruit Ronan Manning.

They started the season in concerning fashion, losing the opening three matches, before slightly steadying the ship in recent weeks by drawing against Kerry FC and Finn Harps.

However, that record places the Shannonsiders at the foot of the table going into Friday's game, in which Athlone will be determined to continue its good form before a tough away outing against leaders Cork on Friday, March 27.

That fixture will be followed by home matches against UCD (Friday, April 3) and Longford Town (Monday, April 6).