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TO THE BONE 👊

A little piece about Athlone Town's great european exploits of 1975 given the recent commemoration of one of the biggest games in the club's history, and an absolutely fantastic pub quiz question to remember! 😅

In 1975 Athlone Town drew European giants AC Milan, and it would be a tie to remember, not for the Rossoneri, but the Midlanders, who made the Italian monster kneel in St. Mel's Park! 💪

🗞 Westmeath Independent
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HE'S BACK 🤩

Darragh Burns has signed for Derry City as he returns to the League of Ireland! 📝

Having made his breakthrough in senior football at St. Pats, Burns is a name LOI fans are all too familiar with. He made a brief return back in 2024 for Shamrock Rovers on loan and now returns full time wearing fhe red and white of Derry City! 👀

The 23 year old winger is the Candystripes 3rd new signing of the summer window so far and is another massive name in Tiernan Lynch's squad! Lynch, who is already under pressure to get results after a poor start to the season, will likely pull out all the stops for the window ahead in order to secure another European finish for Derry, and Burns in the door will be exactly what the Foylesiders will have been looking for! 🔴⚪️

Thoughts on this big move? ⬇️

JOIN THEM 🤷‍♂️

The Shelbourne manager hunt continues with the club reportedly been in contact with Linfield manager David Healy over possibly coming in to take over the Reds just before the NIFL season kicks off! David Healy has been at Linfield for 11 years now and has won 6 league titles and 4 domestic cups with the Belfast side since taking over back in 2015 so he has a lot of experience in both winning trophies and competing in the early stages European football, both boxes ticked in what Shels would be looking for in their new manager! 👀

They have now been without a manager for nearly 3 weeks but with the club having sporadic games this month, with a cup game against Kerry next weekend being their first competitive game in 2 weeks, the club seem to have taken this time to assess the ideal candidate for the job! 👔

Healy's contract ends in 2028, and with a big European tie coming up for Linfield, should they win it they would be facing Shelbourne! 😳

Do you think Healy the right fit for Shels? ⬇️

THE TITAN OF TALLAGHT RETURNS 🤩

Just a week after returning to Ireland, Pico Lopes will make his grand return to Shamrock Rovers next Tuesday as the Hoops announce his return to the squad for the vital European second leg against Maltese champions Floriana! ☘️

The Rovers are 2-0 down on aggregate going into the game and can't afford to concede another, so having their captain back will be a monstrous boost, especially given the wave he is on after Cabo Verde's successful World Cup campaign. What a tie in store for the Tallaght crowd next week and expecta hero's return for Lopes when the team's line out! 💪

Can Stephen Bradley's side turn it around and stay in the Champions League qualifiers with Pico back? 👀

📸 John Lee Photography