League Report: Drogheda United 3 - 2 Athlone Town

A hat trick from Declan O’Brien was enough for Drogheda United to see off the spirited challenge of Athlone Town at United Park on Friday night.

The veteran’s three strikes had the Boynesiders seemingly out of sight with twenty minutes remaining but two late goals from Philip Gorman meant that the home side were nervously hanging on at the final whistle. 

United took the lead inside the opening ten minutes. Bright interplay between Gavin Brennan and Shane Grimes on the left flank resulted in the latter delivering an inch perfect cross for O’Brien to put Drogheda in front with a diving header. 

It should have been 2-0 on the half hour mark as an incisive breakaway from Gavin Brennan released O’Brien again but, rather than shooting, he opted to pass to Gary O’Neill whose goal bound effort was blocked by Sean Byrne. 

Athlone began to assert themselves and they squandered an excellent opportunity to level affairs shortly before the interval. Sean Brennan found space in behind the Drogheda defence and he squared for Jason Marks but the winger was unable to hit the target with David Ryan stranded in goal.

The Town created another opening straight from the interval. A long ball out of defence was flicked on by Graham Rusk into the path of Gorman but the striker’s weak attempt at chipping Ryan was easy for the Drogheda goalkeeper.

It was a case of déjà vu, though, as United regained control of the game and made their dominance count. A deep corner-kick from Eric Foley found O’Brien at the back post and the striker made no mistake as he headed into the bottom corner of the goal on 51 minutes. 

The Boynesiders were in cruise control at this stage and they seemingly put the game beyond the reach of the visitors on 70 minutes. A lofted diagonal ball from O’Neill found Declan O’Brien in acres of space and the striker composed himself before firing past Skinner at his near post for his hat trick. This was the Dubliner’s sixth league goal of the season. 

To their credit, Mick Cooke’s men refused to throw in the towel and they pulled a goal back on 76 minutes. Sean Brennan’s corner-kick picked out Gorman who headed the ball back across goal to give the Town some hope.

The momentum of the game had swung the way of the visitors and a carbon copy delivery from Sean Brennan found Gorman who beat Ryan to the ball for 3-2 with ten minutes left to play.

Athlone were reduced to ten men in the dying embers of the game as debutant Stephen Quigley was dismissed for a lunge on Gavin Brennan as the Town suffered their fifth consecutive defeat of the season.

This result sees Drogheda leapfrog Shamrock Rovers into second place in the league and they will look to maintain their undefeated start to the season when they face Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds on Monday.

Drogheda United: David Ryan; Gavan Holohan, Alan McNally, Ciaran McGuigan, Shane Grimes; Carl Walshe (Michael Daly 73), Daire Doyle, Eric Foley (Stephen Maher 62), Gavin Brennan; Gary O’Neill, Declan O’Brien. 
Subs Not Used: Dylan Connolly, Paul Andrews, Austin McCann, Phillip Hughes, Ciaran O’Connor.

Bookings: None

Athlone Town: Paul Skinner; Kealan Dillon (Stephen Quigley 73), Derek Prendergast, Aidan Collins (Conor McMahon 73), Barry Clancy; Sean Brennan, Sean Byrne, James O’Brien, Jason Marks (Ian Sweeney 54); Graham Rusk, Philip Gorman. 
Subs Not Used: Craig Sexton, Niall Scullion, Mark Hughes, Declan Brennan.

Bookings: S Brennan (46).
Sent Off: Quigley (87).

Referee: Jim McKell.

Attendance: 947

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Declan O’Brien (Drogheda United).