- Midleton FC beat Mayfield United 2-0 in the first round of the Club Orange FAI Cup, with Jake Hegarty scoring both goals
- Athlone Town are around seventh to eighth in the League of Ireland First Division, with roughly mid-20s points
- There is no previous H2H record between the sides as they meet for the first time
O’Connor can keep cup run on track
Sean O'Connor's first game in charge of Athlone Town FC will surely be a must-win contest when they face Munster Senior League Midleton FC in the second round of the 2026 FAI Cup on Friday.
The hosts are favourites with the bookmakers at 17/50, while the visitors are a 639/100 long shot with the draw at 17/5.
That is fair enough, given Athlone are around 7th-8th in the League of Ireland First Division.
Midleton have a good cup pedigree, but this looks like a big step up for the club.
Home side should have the quality to edge it
Athlone's recent form has been mixed, winning 2-0 at home to Cobh Ramblers, followed by a 1-0 defeat to Bray, 1-1 draw with Finn Harps, 2-2 draw at Wexford Youths and 1-0 defeat to Kerry FC.
That win over Cobh, when their attack flowed, suggests they can get enough quality to break down a lower-league side at home and they should still have more than enough to edge this one. Cillian Tollett has been Athlone's leading goal scorer in the 2026 campaign, although teammates Peter Grogan and Patrick Ferry have also found the net each in the competition.
Midleton midfielders could cause problems
Midleton's Jake Hegarty is a good bet to score against the division-above side after he struck both goals in the 2-0 win over Mayfield United, but the hosts still look the most likely to win.
Eoin Linehan's side will set up as they do in the Munster Senior League, compact and direct, with set pieces and second balls likely to play a big part. Athlone are more patient and will be looking to pin their opponents back and squeeze out a goal. This has the feel of a possession versus counter-attack affair.
The home side should have enough quality to get the win, but the visitors' cup nous and the fact that Hegarty could pop up with a goal or two means this cannot be seen as a sure thing. An Athlone win with under 3.5 goals looks the best way to take advantage of the price on the home team.
