Athlone Town boss Stephen Kelly can welcome back the suspended duo of Graeme O'Keeffe and Tom Silke for their game with Galway United at Terryland Park but Gavin Doyle is suspended for one more match.
"The game against Galway is a very important game for us.
United host Athlone in first home game of a new and promising season
Eircom League football makes a welcome return to Terryland Park tomorrow evening as Stephen Lally's Galway United host Athlone Town.
Having made an electric start in Monaghan last Sunday, United certainly will be injected with confidence and a home victory would see the Tribesmen open up a five-point gap on a quietly fancied Athlone Town side. The midlanders player/manager, Stephen Kelly, astutely added Danny O'Leary, John Flanagan, and Alan O'Connor during the close season, but United will expect to attain a dividend. Adrian Carberry, a peripheral figure in his two seasons with Galway United, featured on the left flank for the Town in last Friday's stalemate with an expensively assembled Dundalk team.
United can reflect with the utmost of satisfaction on an immensely encouraging start in Monaghan. Alan Gough was assured behind a majestic rearguard in which Marcin Syzmanski underlined his value. The towering Polishman did not look too comfortable in pre-season, but first impressions can often be deceptive and the United left full was a beacon of consistency in last weekend’s competitive environment.
Billy Clery and Nigel Keady formed an aggressive central defensive duo which augurs well for the coming months. Should United play with such efficiency on a consistent basis, a berth in the promised land of the premier division is well within this evolving team's remit.
When introduced, John Russell provided a dash of quality which ultimately outwitted a brave Monaghan side that battled honourably, particularly in the first half. The tasty Kevin Williamson also possesses tricky feet and the Tullamore youngster, who impressed in his brief cameo friendly appearances, did not disappoint in Monaghan. Barry Moran was another key performer, claiming two deserved goals with a relentless display that is becoming his trademark.
Athlone Town fancy their chances of making a sustained push for promotion this season, and Stephen Kelly is assembling a capable group of footballers in the midlands.
As always Athlone relish clashes with United, and a reasonable crowd should be present at Terryland Park for this first home clash of the season. If United can play with the grit, determination, and quality that they displayed in Monaghan, the club should feature at the business end of the league. An expectant home crowd will demand another victory tomorrow evening on the Dyke Road and hopefully it will be a Good Friday for Galway United at Terryland Park.
Athlone
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