U19 Elite: Sligo Rovers 3 - 0 Athlone Town
Credit:
Sligo Rovers could not have asked for a better start to their new season with a strong 3-0 win over fellow newly promoted side Athlone Town in the Showgrounds on Saturday afternoon.
An entertaining game saw plenty of early chances for the home side and the ball was in the back of the net after just three minutes when a Michael Casey cross was cleared out to Ryan McManus whose curling shot hit the upright and Gary Armstrong's follow up was ruled out for offside.
Just two minutes later McManus' second attempt was a successful one when he converted a free kick from just outside the Athlone area following a foul on Cian Brennan. Five minutes later Ruairi Keating had a great chance to extend the Bit O'Red's lead but he hit his effort over the bar from two yards out.
Town's first chance came in the 15th minute when Sean French saw his strike from 30 yards superbly saved by Adam Murphy in the Rovers goal. This was quickly followed by another effort from Eoin McCormack whose shot from a similar distance was hit just wide of the Sligo Rovers goal.
The final chance of the first half came to Gary Armstrong who went on a great run from midfield into the Town danger area but he hit his strike well over.
In the 59th minute Sligo Rovers doubled their lead when substitute Ross Taheny got on the end of a Cian Brennan cross from the left hand side and he made no mistake with his finish. Just three minutes later Athlone's Ian Fletcher saw his effort come back off the crossbar.
It wasn't to be Athlone's day and the final nail in their coffin came in the 79th minute when the lively Cian Brennan played a short pass through the Athlone defence to Jordan Loftus who neatly hit the ball past Paddy Dunican in the Town goal.
The win sees Sligo Rovers hit top of the table until at least tomorrow afternoon when two more Elite Division games take place. Next up for Sligo Rovers is a long trip south to face Cobh Ramblers in St. Colman's Park while the Midlanders entertain Shamrock Rovers in Athlone Town Stadium.
Sligo Rovers: Adam Murphy, Brian Glennon (Keelan Kennoy 73), Michael Casey, Gary Boylan, Jake Dykes, Ryan McManus, Gary Armstrong, Colm Nevin, Ruairi Keating (Jordan Loftus 56), Cian Brennan, Regan Donnellan (Ross Taheny 46).
Subs not used: Adam Chambers, Darren Kilcawley, Jack Selby, Liam Flately
Athlone Town: Paddy Dunican, Danny Molloy, Eoin Breathnach, Jack Quinn, Conor Malow, Evan McKeavey, Sean French (Gary Morgan 73), Ian Fletcher, Andy Nevin (Aaron Shine 51) Colm Poole (Stuart Dunne 51), Eoin McCormack.
Subs not used: Mark Geoghan, James Finan, Aaron Rafter, Robert Reid.
