John Sweeney was the older brother. He first featured in Athlone colours in 1916 and went on to captain Athlone’s breakthrough side to victory in the 1921/22 Leinster Cup Final. John Sweeney was Athlone Town’s first League of Ireland captain and embellished that status by scoring Athlone’s first League of Ireland goal, first League of Ireland hat-trick and also Athlone’s first FAI cup goal.
Unfortunately, John Sweeney’s playing career was effectively ended when he was victim of a shooting in September 1923. He survived his injuries but that bullet wound to his lung when in his prime at the age of 25, brought his career to an end. He later suffered from tuberculosis and died on 23rd October 1936 at age 38.
With the premature end to John’s playing career his younger brother Jim Sweeney succeeded him as captain of Athlone Town and he went on to carve out a glittering career.
Jim Sweeney scored 55 League of Ireland goals in 5 seasons. He remains Athlone Towns leading FAI cup goalscorer with his tally of 10 FAI cup goals surpassing even more modern day goal machines like Eugene Davis, Michael O Connor and Noel Larkin. His greatest achievement however was to captain Athlone Town to their first, and to date, their only FAI cup win in 1924.
These men are sporting icons of Athlone sporting history and they ought to be revered for their fine contributions to the rich football tradition and heritage that we all enjoy.
Jim Sweeney passed away on 26th June 1961 after a long illness. Sadly, these two legends of sport have as their resting place an otherwise unmarked grave in the shadow of a solitary tree in Cornamagh Cemetary in Athlone.
We, in the ADSL believe that these men deserve to have a fitting memorial and that a proper epitaph should acclaim their sporting achievements.
This feeling was affirmed later in the book, when we learned that Jim & John Sweeney donated a trophy for a new under age league in Athlone and that both brothers, together with others, organised under age tournaments to develop young talent. John Sweeney, after his enforced retirement, was a notable figure in administration, particularly at under age level. In this way, both men were predecessors of the work carried on by the ADSL to this day.
We will, therefore, erect a suitable headstone over the grave of both men in Cornamagh cemetery in Athlone.
Anyone wishing to contribute to this project can do so by contacting ADSL secretary Terry O Neill (086 1297701) or forward cheques, payable to ADSL, to the league address on the Home page of this site.