Athlone Town aim for historic first league title against Shamrock Rovers

But their moment won’t be shown live as TG4’s normal prime time slot is taken up by rugby – although all matches will be available to stream on LOITV.

Instead, TG4 will show the clash in the west and perhaps join a few others in hoping that Athlone can delay their title crowning by seven days, because next week their cameras will be in the Midlands.

Ciarán Kilduff’s men are impatient, however; Last season’s Cup winners have already booked another encounter against Shels as they attempt to complete the first half of a remarkable double.

If they confirm it on Saturday, they would become the fifth different champion in 14 editions of the league.

In just their fifth competitive season, they once trailed a championship-winning team – Shelbourne in 2021 – by 42 points.

Today, they are on the verge of becoming one.

They have only lost twice this year and suffered significant player departures; Dana Scheriff returns to the United States while Northern Ireland international Casey Howe has been signed by Championship side Notts Forest.

Chloe Singleton also missed the decisive race but, despite being at a club where the men’s team has been completely uncompetitive for a generation and more, ex-Dundalk star Kilduff has put together a formidable team.

Cork City v DLR Waves (2:00 p.m., Turner’s Cross)

Sligo Rovers v Peamount United (2:00 p.m., Showgrounds)

Bohemian FC v Wexford FC (3:00 p.m., Dalymount Park)

Galway United v Shelbourne (4.45pm, Eamonn Deacy Park, TG4)

Athlone Town v Shamrock Rovers (7:30 p.m., Athlone Town Stadium)