Athlone Town (A)

[culloty82]

Given the opposition we face for the remainder of June and the start of July, this may be the best opportunity the Kingdom will have to secure a win over the next month, and keep the pre-break momentum going. Despite Honkola leaving this week, Palmer and Okwute have both been in fine fettle recently, with Kennedy Amechi's return giving further forward options, but consistency and efficiency remain ever present concerns. We appear to have a clean bill of health apart from Kelliher, so one presumes the starting XI will be largely unchanged, bar Sean O'Connell returning to the back line perhaps. Before our trip to Wexford, the 2023 visit to Lissywollen had been our only away league victory, but given recent form, we can have grounds for confidence of repeating the feat tomorrow.

[dansultheman]

A tricky one to restart after the break. We were starting to hit good form in the previous 5 games, the draw from Wexford was a gift to them and Dundalk loss was really the only blip, despite being the better team for an hour. Healy clearly making headway with the current group and an extra week on the pitch this week with a clean bill of health, there's no reason we cannot go and get 3 points. We certainly seem harder to beat. Finishing chances is something we need to be better at if we are to pick up some more away wins this year.

Id predict much of the Same XI that beat Longford. Im not sure Healy trusts O Connell to start yet, a fully confident O Connell and he is one of the best left backs in the Division, but he has his work cut out to return to that form. He really kicked on last year when Jack Kavanagh arrived for competition, maybe the fact he is the only LB in the team explains some complacency!

Prediction: Athlone 0-2 Kerry (Okuwute & Palmer)

[legendz]

Dan and Seanie are key for these games. If they start taking their chances from general play, should win away this evening and start closing in on the playoffs. Would be just wary of any new manager/coach bounce by Athlone.

[culloty82]

Do you go glass half full or glass half empty? You do ultimately feel it was a case of two points dropped, particularly given the other First Division results, and good to see that Healy felt likewise in his press conference, in that that's how the bar is raised looking ahead to the second half of the season.

[Zico]

It’s 2 points dropped given nature of conceding from set piece at the death, but a draw was a fair result. Athlone have good players and should be in playoff contention, they now have a decent manager so getting a point here might not be the worst thing. What has changed in the last few weeks is we are now picking up points without playing brilliantly well - we have got points in 5 of our last 6.

Great to see Amechi back in and scoring (loads of talent), Sam is improving all the time at the back and in possession too. We need a left back / wing back though, if O’Connell is out of favor, just don’t see Dunne as the solution.

Yes disappointing to concede late on, but I think we lose that game 3 months ago - the players / team are now getting results more consistently.