Athlone Town can catapult club onto European stage, but stiff Cardiff City challenge awaits

Kayleigh Shine (3rd from left) of Athlone Town celebrates after scoring their second goal against Cork City in the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division at Athlone Town Stadium. Pic: Ray Ryan

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.