Reigning champs Athlone ‘right where we want to be’ ahead of FAI Cup final against Shelbourne

Much of the chat in the build-up to Sunday’s FAI Cup final has been centred on the misfortune of it being staged on the same day as Ireland’s game against Israel in Debrecen. The latter fixture, and everything around it, has, naturally enough, hoovered up the bulk of this week’s sporting attention.

The date for the final was announced last December, the draw for the Nations League, which put Israel in Ireland’s group, wasn’t made until February, so the clash wasn’t a gaffe. Still, the decision to switch the final to three weeks earlier than last year, before the conclusion of the league campaign, wasn’t universally appreciated, the occasion having usually marked the end of the season.