Cork City Women aim to stop title-chasing Athlone Town in midweek clash at Turner’s Cross 

Cork City Women will try and stop Athlone Town’s title charge when they meet under the lights this Wednesday at Turner’s Cross, 7.30pm.

The Rebel Army’s focus will be on themselves as they are bottom of the league with just eight points collected this season.

All the attention will be on Athlone Town as the champions could go back-to-back at Turner’s Cross if they defeat Shelbourne this weekend at Tolka Park.

Craig Robinson and his management team can only watch on as they look to manage a run-in that also involves games with Shamrock Rovers and Wexford.

The coach is at the tail end of his interim spell and is managing a group that has only avoided defeat four times this year between three different competitions, with the outlier being the 3-3 draw with Cliftonville in the All-Island Cup.

That was a long time ago and a lot has changed since then, with plenty of new faces around the squad.

The Rebel Army made seven summer signings and the fresh energy led to inspired performances against Peamount United in the FAI Cup and Shelbourne at Turner’s Cross.

Both games saw periods where City created chances and defended well, but they fell on both occasions despite glimpses of promise.

Any understanding of these results needs to be seen through the age profile, as the majority of the squad is still eligible to play in the Underage National Leagues. 

There will be an U23 competition next season in place of the U19s, and even more players are available to play at that level.

That leaves the senior spine being Ciara McNamara, Christina Dring, Shaunagh McCarthy, Una Foyle, and Lauren Homan.

There’s a very different story unfolding in the midlands as Athlone Town are looking for a league and cup double.

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The club are one of the most resilient in the league as they have survived three managerial departures in three seasons.

Athlone came through this period by winning the Women’s FAI Cup and a President’s Cup, before pipping Shelbourne to the league title.

The club built on this run of form in the UEFA Women’s Champions League by getting out of a qualifying group that had Cardiff City and ZNK Agram of Croatia. Icelandic side Breiðablik ended their journey but the consolation prize was a place in the Europa Cup following a 2-0 victory over Red Star Belgrade.

Glasgow City ended their adventure and the club returned to the league for a run-in that could accumulate in the double, something last done in Ireland by Shelbourne in 2022.

This has been done with a stacked squad that is led by Kelly Brady, who scored her 14th and 15th goals of the season last weekend. Madison Gibson is the creator, with the American tallying eight assists this year while hitting the back of the net on six different occasions.

Cork City wish they were in a position like this, as look to stop a runaway train this Wednesday night.