Latest news with #AthloneTown
RTÉ News
2 hours ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Shelbourne striker Kate Mooney wins monthly award after run of goals
Shelbourne forward Kate Mooney has been named as the SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division Player of the Month for June and July. The Dubliner is leading the Golden Boot race with 12 goals that have helped to keep Eoin Wearen's team just three points behind champions Athlone Town at the top of the table. Mooney was in brilliant form across the last two months, which was highlighted by her brace in the win away to Peamount United and her hat-trick in the victory against Sligo Rovers. The 26-year-old has certainly found her groove in front of goal but her overall play has made her stand out and it's what her team-mates will be quick to point to when lavishing praise on her. Mooney, though, feels that she is performing well because The Reds are performing well together. "It is all about the team. I have worked very hard individually this season and I am reaping the awards at the moment and the hard work is paying off," said Mooney. "Every game we're growing as a team; we're learning a lot about each other. We've had a few injuries at the moment so we're having to battle that and find different ways of playing against different opposition. It's only going to make us better. "Eoin Wearen has pulled me aside a few times this year if I haven't been scoring for a few games and he says 'Kate, you're starting for many more reasons than just your goalscoring'. "I work very hard, track back, win a lot of balls, win a lot of headers and I feel I'm always a threat but if I can help make someone else score to win the game then that's even better. "I think we know each other so well as a team so we know what each individual needs. That is hugely important. I set my target to score three goals every five games and I've been okay at achieving it but honestly I'd have liked to score more and provided more assists as I know I have a lot more in me, but sometimes I have to play the other side of my game to help the team." Mooney becomes the eighth different Shelbourne player to win this monthly award and was voted ahead of Athlone Town defender Kayleigh Shine and DLR Waves forward Michelle Doonan. She is currently awaiting news on an injury sustained in the All-Ireland Cup defeat to Bohemians last Saturday.
RTÉ News
6 hours ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Preview: Athlone targeting Champions League breakthrough
Women's Champions League Round 1 Qualifier semi-final Athlone Town v Cardiff City, Athlone Town Stadium, 7.30pm (available to stream on LOITV) Athlone Town will attempt to make a little bit of Champions League history this week as European football returns to the Midlands for the first time in 42 years. Colin Fortune was a young boy in the stands when Standard Liege came to St Mel's Park for a European Cup tie in 1983; tonight, he leads the women's team into battle against Cardiff City hoping to write another chapter in the club's proud history. A nephew of the famous O'Connor brothers - Turlough, Padraig and Michael - Fortune was reared on tales of Athlone glories. He has been sounding the rallying cry over the last few days as he looks to guide Athlone past Cardiff; if they prevail tonight, they'll host Croatian champions Agram in Saturday's Round 1 final. Win that one and Athlone would become the first Irish side since Peamount United (in 2011) to progress to Round 2 of the Women's Champions League qualifiers, where they could potentially meet the likes of Manchester United and Inter Milan. That would be a major achievement for Athlone, but it will not be straightforward. In March, Cardiff won their third Adran Premier League title in a row, and then beat Wrexham 3-1 to lift the Bute Energy Welsh Cup and complete the double. Iain Darbyshire's side are dangerous at setpieces, thanks in large part to the lethal deliveries of full-back Ffion Price. With Cardiff still in pre-season, Athlone should be sharper, but Darbyshire is confident his charges are coming here well prepared. "Athlone are a really good side," he said. "We've watched a lot of their games. They're mid-season, which presents a different challenge for us in trying to get up to their physical level and trying to get into the same type of rhythm as them. "That being said, I feel like we've prepared in the best way we can." Things could have gone off track at Athlone last winter when Ciarán Kilduff left to manage the Dundalk men's team after winning the league and reaching the FAI Women's Cup final, but former army sergeant Fortune has done a fine job, keeping most of the squad together and embellishing it with the quality additions of Izzy Groves and Kelly Brady. Fortune is hopeful Brady and Madison Gibson are okay for tonight after they both came off during last week's draw against Treaty United. Groves is a bigger concern - she hasn't featured since last month's FAI Cup defeat of Terenure Rangers. "We're assessing them. They're massive players," said Fortune "If the guys are available, brilliant. You want them players available, the experience they bring, but if they're not, we've other players ready to come in. "We'll get behind whatever 11 players are on the pitch - it's not even the 11, it's about the squad, it's about the 24, 25 players we have." Brady is particularly confident she'll be okay. The New York-born Republic of Ireland Under-19 international has been a revelation since arriving in January, and is banking on a partisan support, with well over a thousand tickets sold. "My mom's father is from Kinvara, Galway and my dad is from Castleblayney in Monaghan," said Brady. "My dad and my family have sponsored a bus to send down some girls from Blayney Rovers, just a small club in Castleblayney, to hopefully come down, the girls or whoever wants to watch the game. "I think there's a group of 60 of them going. And then family from Galway and stuff making their own way down - not taking up spots on the bus though! "We have a lot of talent in our team and that helps everyone out. I've loved Athlone, got myself a little job here (as a barista in a cafe). My family has visited a bunch of times, and they love it too. It's great." This is Cardiff's third Champions League campaign and they have yet to win a match, or even score a goal. However they have been steeled by past experiences and will fancy themselves in Lissywollen. For Athlone, it's a genuine opportunity. Last year, Peamount got to the Round 1 final, where they lost 1-0 to Osikjek in Croatia. That game was played in sweltering September heat. Conditions tonight will be mild and overcast, while the importance of a boisterous home crowd can't be overstated. This will be tight, but it's winnable for Athlone, and represents a big chance to rekindle memories of famous old European feats.
Irish Examiner
12 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Athlone Town can catapult club onto European stage, but stiff Cardiff City challenge awaits
Women rule right now within the oldest League of Ireland club and Athlone Town can catapult themselves onto the European stage by scalping Cardiff City tonight (7.30pm). Despite the men's team languishing at the bottom of the First Division, their female equivalents top their national league and are in position to retain their title. Domestic demands are halted while this week's itinerary revolves around the club's first European exposure since the men's side hosted Standard de Liège in 1983. Women's manager Colin Fortune thanked the club's new investor, US-businessman Nick Giannotti, for helping the Town cement home advantage for this first qualifying series. It's only two months since an Irish woman, Katie McCabe, lifted the trophy for Arsenal. They take on a Cardiff side who've won the Welsh title three years in a row, outright favourites to advance through this one-off tie to meet Croatian side ZNK Agram on Saturday – also at Athlone Town Stadium. Athlone are content to be outsiders. Their squad is composed of many players across the Midlands regions but there's an international dimension, courtesy of canny recruitment by club contacts. American Maddie Gibson was a mainstay of Athlone's recent successes, their 2023 FAI Cup triumph followed by a first league title in their history. Another New Yorker, Kelly Brady, linked up this season, claiming the May player of the month and dashing to the top of the scoring charts. The striker was familiar with the Irish set-up from declaring through her parents from Monaghan and Galway. She's settled into life in Athlone, complementing her football by undertaking another passion, working as a Barista. 'Everybody has helped me feel part of the set-up and it helps that myself and Maddie are in the same house,' said Brady. 'Champions League football is what I watched back in America growing up, even if I had to explain to people back home that we don't get to play Chelsea yet.' Brady shone in the home-based international assessment but has yet to hear from Ireland manager Carla Ward. Slaying the Dragons would change that.
Irish Times
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Athlone confident in their goalscoring abilities ahead of European debut against Cardiff City
Women's Champions League, first qualifying round: Athlone Town v Cardiff City, Athlone Town Stadium, Wednesday, 7.30pm – Live on LOITV Athlone Town's European debut against Cardiff City in the Champions League first-round qualifier at Lissywollen comes with an instant reward as the winners have a home tie this Saturday against Croatian side ZNK Agram. 'There is a buzz around the town, so we're excited to get going,' said Madie Gibson, Athlone's American winger. 'We know that Cardiff are a good side and we have to respect them. It's not going to be easy, we know that. 'We're confident. We have one of the top goalscorers in the league with Kelly Brady, we have Róisín Molloy, who always gets a lot of assists every year, but we also have a lot of young players who can come in and score as well. 'So we're kind of rich all over the pitch and anyone can score on their day.' READ MORE However, Gibson, Brady and Izzy Groves are injury doubts for manager Colin Fortune. 'We're assessing them, they're massive players,' Fortune said. 'The Treaty game thrown in (last Wednesday) didn't help us. I don't think we're developed for that yet, them type of games coming around as quick as they did, I don't think we're ready for that and it's done a bit of damage to us in relation to our preparation. 'We'll give Cardiff a right go no matter who's on the pitch.' Athlone are the fifth Irish club to play in Europe, following in the footsteps of Peamount United, Raheny United, Wexford and Shelbourne.
The Irish Sun
19 hours ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
I'm an America-born Athlone Town attacker and my dad is doing his part to sell-out our Champions League match
HER dad has done his bit to try to help Athlone Town have a sell-out against Cardiff City. And Kelly Brady is bidding to ensure that those that make it to their Advertisement 2 Brady won the Premier Division Player of the Month in April 2 The 23-year-old currently leads the league golden boot race with 10 goals The US-born former Ireland under-19 international has been a star performer for Now, she is hoping to transfer her skills to a higher level, even if some of those at home are a little confused about what that might entail. She said: 'I've gotten a few funny questions like, 'Oh are you guys going to be playing Chelsea or Arsenal?' No, obviously not. 'As a little kid, those are the teams that you want to one day go and play for. You're watching them at home. Advertisement Read more on League of Ireland 'Hopefully one day we work our way up, but it's great to be on a similar stage to those teams and those great, talented players.' That ambition was fueled by watching She said: 'We watched it at home surrounded by some teammates. 'I wanted Katie to bring it back home and also the buzz surrounding Katie as well,on social media Ireland was promoting it a lot. It was just great to watch her bring it home.' Advertisement Most read in Football Comment Brady has ambitions of joining The 23-year-old has taken a job as a barista in a local café which has meant she is well aware about the excitement for what will be a record attendance for a women's match in the town as they hope to sell out the ground's seated capacity of 2,024. Ireland legend joins Jacqui Hurley in making quirky prediction for Women's Euros semi from RTE couch Most of those will be from the hinterland but there are some coming from further afield after her father put his hand in his pocket. Brady explained: "My mom's father is from Kinvara, Galway and my dad is from Castleblayney in Monaghan. Advertisement 'My dad, and my family, has sponsored a bus to send down some girls from Blayney Rovers. Just a small club in Castleblayney, to hopefully come down, the girls or whoever wants to watch the game, on a bus. I think there's a group of 60 of them going. 'And then family from Galway are making their own way down - not taking up spots on the bus though!" That will help her feel even more at home with the only disappointment since moving here the realisation that she could not pursue a pastime she had taken up in New York. Advertisement She said: 'I thought I'd be playing more Gaelic football but it's full-time soccer now. I played a little bit at home and I hoped to come here and play but I can't be risking any injury. 'As far as culture shocks, not really. I don't have a car so I've been walking everywhere and doing more public transportation stuff that I wouldn't be doing at home but I've been settling in nicely.'
