Kerry vs Athlone Town - First Division

All eyes turn to the home ground on June 12, 2026 as Kerry welcome Athlone Town in a First Division encounter that promises tension, intrigue and no shortage of subplot. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Ahead of the first leg of the UEFA Conference League play-off tie against Czech side Jablonec at Ibrox on Thursday, McInnes said: "I said that when I spoke to Lawrence.

The two sides arrive with plenty to prove, and the First Division contest at the home ground offers a chance to lay down a marker. The hosts have mirrored the form of a side still searching for rhythm — LLL over their last five, a win rate of 34.38%. The visitors have been a mixed bag on the road, WD in their last five and a win rate of 37.5% reflecting their unpredictability. The contrast in attacking output — 1.22 versus 1.13 goals per game — adds an extra layer of intrigue. The Ghana winger, signed on loan from Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise on transfer deadline day, drilled in an angled shot on the run, via the inside of the far post, for his first Derby goal.

Tactically, the contest promises a fascinating contrast. Kerry will look to impose their style on home soil, while Athlone Town are likely to have ideas of their own about how to gain the upper hand. Andoni Iraola could not have been clearer about how he plans to change Liverpool when speaking in his opening press conference.

Game-changers are scattered across both line-ups, and the contest may well be decided by which side's match-winners deliver on the day. Whoever wins the individual duel between the two sides' chief playmakers is likely to dictate the rhythm and, ultimately, the destination of the points. And moving forward, that mentality and courageous attitude will be just as important as the mettle he shows when he is in contention to win.

Predictions are tricky when the sides are this evenly matched, and small margins — a moment of quality, a slice of luck — could decide it either way. Expect a tight, competitive affair that could easily end all square at 1-1. With positions in the First Division table to defend and momentum to chase, neither side can afford to leave anything in the tank. It is understood that his next move is most likely to take him abroad - and potentially to the Premier League.