Top two set to face off in mouth-watering clash

Soccer Wrap with Mike Rafferty

The ambitions of both Salthill Devon and Athenry would be on a similar wavelength as they are regular contenders for all the major honours on the soccer calendar. Without a doubt, Devon have enjoyed the upper hand in recent years, having landed a double Connacht Junior Cup success and a Premier Division title.

It is very difficult to maintain a regular consistency year in and year out, and maybe the current campaign has resulted in a slide in the standards they had set previously. Throughout this spell Athenry always posed the strongest challenge, and their success rate and trophy cabinet is testament to their own success and the tests they pose in every competition.

Throughout the current league campaign, Athenry have led the way but Salthill Devon were always in their slipstream and a win for them last weekend over Maree/Oranmore allowed them join Athenry at the top of the table and with both of them having just two games left to play, a lot will be at stake when they meet in Moanbawn tomorrow (Saturday) at 2pm.

The sides have met on two previous occasions this season. In a league meeting in Drom, Devon were comfortable 5-0 winners against a 10-man visitors back in January. They also went head-to-head in the Connacht Junior Cup and a 1-0 win for Athenry saw them dismiss the holders in the Fourth Round.

The start of the year saw Devon decimated by injuries, and a number of players were missing as they exited the FAI Junior Cup away against Buncrana. Gradually these players are returning and the likes of Shane Conway, Darren Darcy, and Calym Crowe will no doubt strengthen the side. Declan Cullen and Stephen Relihan were on the injured list for Athenry for some time and they too are on the way back.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

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