As the Athlone Town women’s team prepare for a return to league action on Saturday, August 19, new manager Ciarán Kilduff has bolstered his squad during the mid season break with the addition of three new players.
Kilduff will take charge of his inaugural league fixture when Sligo Rivers are the visitors to Lissywollen, the hosts sitting in seventh position following their opening 12 fixtures of this season’s campaign.
Kilduff has added two goalkeepers and a defender to his squad in the hope that fresh impetus will encourage a positive outcome to the second half of the Town’s league season.
Goalkeeper Katie Keane joins the club from Shelbourne where she won the National League at U17 level before progressing to play for the Shels senior women’s team. In fact, Katie was in goal when Shelbourne defeated Athlone Town 4 – 1 in the All Island Cup. Katie has also represented Ireland at U17 and U19 level and is definitely one to watch as a future full international.
Fellow custodian, Katherine (Kat ) Hess, has also joined the club bringing a lot of experience to the squad having represented the USA national teams from U14 to U18 level and was TopDrawerSoccer’s No 1 ranked national goalkeeper. She was on the ODP All-Star team, earned regional top honours with Cal South Soccer Federation as ‘Player of the Year’. Kat played her university football with Harvard where she received All-Ivy League honourable mention and was included in the Ivy League honour roll on three occasions.
Defender Jesi Rossman, is Kilduff’s third mid-season signing. Jesi played for Monmouth University where she received numerous accolades, namely the 2022 CAA Defensive Player of the Year, 2022 First Team All-CAA, 2022 USC All-East Region Second Team, 2022 First Team All-ECAC and member of the 2022 CAA regular season champions. Jesi hasn’t always played in defence as in high school she played in midfield and forward positions and was their leading scorer.
