Cork City look to extend gap at the top as improved Athlone visit

Cork City will look to extend their unbeaten start to the season as they host Athlone Town at Turner's Cross this evening (7.45pm).

It’s early days yet for the League of Ireland First Division season, but the gap between Cork City and second-placed Bray Wanderers is equal to the gap between third-placed Athlone Town and bottom of the table Treaty United.

But, as Athlone travel to the Cross this evening to take on Cork City with the odds stacked against them, they can take solace in the fact they’ve been the one First Division regular to take continuous scalps when facing the Leesiders.

The last meeting between the teams took place in October 2024, with Athlone Town pulling off a 4-1 victory at home against an already promoted City to inflict only their second First Division defeat of the season.

On that occasion, Ruairi Keating opened the scoring in the first half, only for Kyle Robinson to land a hat-trick prior to Peter McGregor’s strike in added time to deal the final blow.

Last week's trip for Cork City to the UCD Bowl delivered another victory for Barry Robson's side. Cillian Murphy's first senior goal – swept home from the edge of the box in the 52nd minute after a poor UCD clearance fell his way – was enough to separate the teams, though City should have been out of sight long before the final whistle.

That win, Cork City's fifth from six games, opened up a five-point lead at the top of the First Division table.

Murphy's goal felt like an inevitability. The 16-year-old has looked at home in senior football since his first start against Wexford, and his link-up play with Seani Maguire in particular has really stood out.

SLIP UP 

Athlone Town arrive at the Cross off the back of their second defeat of the season. Treaty United brought down the visitors with a 2-0 win at Markets Field last Friday, Ben Feeney and Cian Curtis netting the goals. That loss dropped Athlone from second to third, and while their early form has been impressive, that defeat was Treaty’s first win of the campaign.

Still, under Ian Ryan, this is already an entirely different Athlone Town from the one that propped up the table in 2025.

The club finished bottom last season – a 22-game winless run from May to October would do that to any team – but the change of ownership under US businessman Nick Giannotti has finally started to bear fruit.

Ryan, who came in midway through 2025, has rebuilt the squad almost entirely, retaining just three senior players and bringing in the likes of Patrick Ferry from Dundalk, Brian McManus from UCD and veteran goalkeeper Brendan Clarke.

And early results have been surprisingly positive. Wins over Finn Harps, Kerry and Cobh Ramblers, along with a draw against Wexford, had Athlone sitting on ten points before the defeat in Limerick. They’ve already matched their 2025 winning record so far.

Ryan has spoken openly about not issuing false dawns to supporters, but it’s clear from the first six games that there’s been a huge improvement on where they were last season. Whether they can sustain it over the course of the season, that’s a different matter.

The head-to-head between the teams is one that Cork have struggled with. The Leesiders won just one of the previous five meetings, including their 4-1 beatdown the last time they met in Westmeath.

Their last meeting at the Cross ended in a 0-0 draw in August 2024, though City did get the better of Athlone that March as Charlie Lyons – the same man to net the winner against Longford Town a fortnight ago – grabbed a 68th minute goal to secure a 1-0 win for City.

The other meeting that season, in Athlone, saw Jamar Campion-Hinds hit the net while City were reduced to ten men after Evan McLaughlin was dismissed, meaning the Rebel Army haven’t won away from home against Athlone since May 2022.

Fortunately they’ll have that home comfort this evening, but Athlone Town shouldn’t be easily beaten, even if Barry Robson’s side are heavy favourites.