The stage is set for a potentially exciting weekend of action at Athlone Town FC stadium.

Athlone men's team rocked by long-term injury to key defender

Published: Thu 2 Apr 2026, 5:00 PM

Last updated: Thu 2 Apr 2026, 5:01 PM

A big weekend of League of Ireland football awaits at Athlone Town Stadium with three matches taking place in the next four days.

However, the build-up to the men's latest SSE Airtricity Legaue First Division match against UCD on Friday evening (7.45pm) has been hit with the news that defender Oisin Hand, only signed in pre-season, will miss the rest of the season after suffering a dreadful knee injury in last weekend's defeat against league leaders Cork City.

Athlone are also due to play Hand's previous club, Longford Town, at the stadium next Monday evening (April 6) at 5pm. The Town will be hoping to get back on track after losing its last two outings to slip to fourth in the division, level on points with UCD but just behind the Students on goal difference.

Also, the Athlone women's team, who are still without a new permanent manager since the departure of John Sullivan, will start their Women's All-Island Cup Group C campaign with a home fixture against Cork City on Saturday evening (6pm). The All-Island Cup is a trophy that has evaded Athlone's successful squad in recent years but they will be hoping to emerge from a winnable group that also includes Treaty Utd and Cliftonville.