el classico

Team news for Midlands’ El Classico


This Saturday 10th March Athlone Town make the short journey across county lines where Longford Town await for the first Midlands’ El Classico of the 2012 season.

Both teams started their season on a winning note last weekend with Longford Town beating Mervue United with the only goal of the game in Terryland Park while Athlone Town were well deserving 2-1 winners against SD Galway a score that did not do Athlone justice as they dominated the game for long periods and on another day with chances taken it would have shown a greater winning margin.

Games between the two sides are notoriously tight affairs with passion both on and off the field. Last season in the four games played between the sides Longford took the spoils 2 – 1 in the EA Sports Cup while in the league there was a 2-0 victory for both sides in Flancare Park while the game in Athlone Town Stadium finished 1-1.

Mike Kerley speaking about last weeks victory over SD Galway said “It was a good win, a good three points and I felt we were very much in control of the game. We probably had four or five good, clear chances which we should have taken, but towards the end we just let them back into the game” and on this weeks game “Longford is a big game for us. They brought in a lot of players this year; they’ve spent a lot of money in trying to push for promotion. We have nothing to fear. Every time we went up there last year we played well and I think our results there were won one, drew one, lost one. So we’re fairly close to Longford.”

Injuries are again this week giving selection worries with Damien Rushe and Stephen Relihan will definitely miss out with their injuries while Mark Sherlock (Hamstring) and Robbie Kelleher (Leg) remain doubtful after suffering injuries during the first two games of the season.

One big plus for Mike Kerley Paul Danaher returns after sitting out a one game suspension last week against SD Galway.

Kick off in Flancare Park Saturday night is scheduled for 7.30pm.