Athlone in Champions League action tomorrow in Poland
The Athlone Town FC women's team is currently on Polish soil preparing for its opening match in this season's UEFA Champions League journey against North Macedonia's ZFK Skopje.
Lily Agg's side, who warmed-up for the game by beating Bohemians 3-0 in the domestic league last Saturday (see report in this week's Westmeath Independent), will face the Macedonians tomorrow (Wednesday) at the near 12,000 capacity ArcelorMittal Park, Sosnowiec (kick-off: 10am Irish time).
The match is available to stream online at nowe.emocje.tv and the cost of doing so is €4.60.
If Athlone manage to overcome Skopje in that semi-final of the first qualifying round, they'll play KÍ Klaksvík (Finland) or Georgia's Nike Lusso in a final on Saturday (at the same venue, kick-off tbc). Should Athlone come through both obstacles, they will be placed in a second qualifying round group alongside Cypriot champions Apollon LFC, KFF Vllaznia (Albania) and one other team to come from the first qualifying stage.
Last season, Athlone hosted its opening round fixtures when defeating Cardiff City and Croatia's ZNK Agram. Those victories set them up for the second qualifyind round in Netherlands where they lost to Breidablik of Iceland. The Champions League exit saw Athlone drop into the then newly formed UEFA Women's Europa Cup, where they were beaten by Glasgow City.
ZFK Skopje were formed in 2014 and have won several national championships since, however, their form on the European stage has not been as impressive, and they are yet to win on the continental stage.
Further bolstered by the recent signings of English duo Sofia Stovold and Phoebe Hampson, Athlone are unbeaten since Lily Agg took over managerial duties, and are now five points clear of Galway Utd in the League of Ireland Premier Division (although Galway has played two games fewer).
Last weekend's win against struggling Bohemians was secured by goals from Madison Gibson, Sofia Stovold and Dana Sheriff, with the latter hitting her 14th goal of the league campaign. Stovold has also proved a threat on the opposition goals since joining the club, and her strike last weekend was a second since debuting against Waterford.
Recently, Athlone has been pleased to welcome Monksland native Chloe Singleton and Kellie Brennan back into the fold after both experienced lengthy problems with injury. However, centre-back Natalie McNally remains out for the long-term after suffering a cruciate ligament knee injury in June.
The weekend's Champions League will also be a first foray into continental management for Athlone manager Lily Agg. The former Republic of Ireland international was appointed as Athlone boss in June following back-to-back ACL injury and a rupture of her Achilles, which contributed to the 32 year-old venturing into the dug-out after successful spells, as a player, with several English clubs.