Sunderland have finally confirmed their pre-season games in Ireland this summer.
The Black Cats plan two games in a brief trip to the Republic in early August.
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Join the debate in our sport forumThey will face Athlone Town at the Lissywollen ground on Thursday, August 7, kick-off 7.30pm and Shamrock Rovers at Tolka Park on Saturday, August 9, kick-off 7.30pm.
Athlone Town, the oldest club in the Republic, now play at their new 6,000-capacity Lissywoollen ground.
The town is situated in the middle of Ireland, 80 miles west of Dublin in Westmeath.
The club is currently in the Irish first division after their relegation from the top flight in 1996.
Roy Keane's men will then go to Dublin on Saturday August 9 – to take on Shamrock Rovers at their 7,000-capacity ground.
The Hoops, who are currently eighth in the Irish Premier Division, are Ireland's most successful club, having won the league title a record 15 times, along with the FAI Cup a record 24 times.
They were also the first Irish club to play in the European Cup, playing the Busby Babes of Manchester United in 1958.
Pre-season games: Sunday July 20, Sporting Lisbon (Portugal); Wednesday July 23, Vitoria de Setubal (Portugal); Wednesday July 30, Nottingham Forest (A); Sunday August 3, Ajax (H); Thursday August 7, Athlone Town (A); Saturday August 9, Shamrock Rovers (A).
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