Athlone Town 2 - 3 Monaghan United
Credit:
Athlone Town came out on the wrong side of a five goal score line on Saturday evening at home to Mick Cooke’s Monaghan United.
Forward Robbie Benson had given Athlone the perfect start with a goal in the second minute but a Sean Brennan penalty brought the visitor’s level. Noel McGee then put his side back in front just before the break but an own goal from Robbie Hamm prior to a late Barry Clancy strike gave The Mons all three points.
Brendan Place started with his regular 4-2-3-1 formation with Stephen Place lining out on the bench alongside new signing Davie Tyrell, while Robbie Benson was given a central role playing off Noel McGee in attack.
And indeed things couldn’t have started much better for the home team. Emeka Onwubiko got his head up early and played Benson in on goal and the striker made no mistake with a cool finish, giving him his first senior goal for the club. That strike was the perfect way to mark a fantastic few weeks for Benson after such good performances for his country recently.
Athlone hearts were in mouths then in the 11th minute when goalkeeper Aaron Shanahan cannoned his clearance into Karl Bermingham but he recovered well to gather the ball at the second attempt.
Benson then created space for Noel McGee to get a strike at goal but Ronan McGann saved comfortably. Brian Cleary then prevented a certain goal scoring opportunity with the impressive left back putting in a fantastic last ditch tackle in the penalty box to deny Brennan a sight at goal.
Shanahan got himself into a spot of bother then in the 35th minute when he raced from his penalty area to claim possession but Don Tierney got there first and rounded the ‘keeper but the ball was cleared off the line much to the relief of the ‘Town faithful.
After taking the lead, instead of grabbing this game by the scruff and driving on in a bid to claim all three points, Athlone felt into a lull for certain periods of the game and Monaghan took full advantage and equalised in the 38th minute. A deep cross into the Athlone penalty area wasn’t dealt with by the ‘keeper and when Barry Clancy drove at goal, Thomas McGauley dived and produced a save that most ‘keepers would be proud of to deny him. However, within the rules of the game it’s a sending off offence and he duly received a red card with Brennan dispatching the penalty. Views may be split on McGauley’s decision to punch clear to deny a certain goal. On one hand, he took the bullet by denying a goal. Given the possibility that his ‘keeper could make a stop from the spot; it may have been a good decision. But with it being so early in the game, in hindsight it was a poor one as they were now a man down and had lost a lead. But it's easy for reporters to write about things like that without the pressures that are on a player in the heat of a game.
Since Place took charge, a new feature to Athlone’s play is an ability to counter attack from back to front with great speed and that pretty much sums up Athlone’s second goal in the 45th minute. A good switch from McGee to Benson saw the young left-footer get to the by- line before superbly pulling back for McGee to fire his side back into the lead.
In a fairly dogged second half, both teams didn’t create a host of chances with Monaghan’s five-man midfield cancelling out Athlone’s. Then as the game approached the hour mark Monaghan levelled the scores through a Robbie Hamm own goal. Cathal O’Connor sent a deep cross into the box and with Shanahan racing out to collect Hamm headed the ball back towards his goal in a bid to find his ‘keeper with a simple header back but instead found his own net. Whether Hamm got a shout from Shanahan is unclear but it doesn’t change the outcome.
Monaghan were also reduced to ten men when substitute David Freeman was given his marching orders after blocking an Athlone free then arguing with the decision with referee Padraig Sutton, and thus cancelling out Mons’ numerical advantage.
Cooke’s charges then had a chance to put themselves ahead five minutes later but Bermingham headed over an O’Connor cross from eight yards. Monaghan weren’t to be denied all three points however as Clancy fired home a Brennan pull back in the dying moments of this one to send Monaghan away with a valuable win.
Athlone Town: Aaron Shanahan, Robbie Hamm, Thomas McGauley (s/o), Des Hope, Brian Cleary, Emeka Onwubiko, Kieran O’Reilly, Damien Rushe (Davie Tyrell,70 mins.), Kevin Williamson, Robbie Benson, Noel McGee (Stephen Place, 85 mins.).
Monaghan United: Ronan McGann, Paul Whelan, Shane Grimes, Brian Gartland, Alan Byrne, Don Tierney, Sean Brennan, Cathal O’ Connor, Darren McKenna (Davie Freeman, 75 mins. s/o), Karl Bermingham, Barry Clancy.
Referee: Padraig Sutton
Extra Time.ie Man of the Match: Kieran O’ Reilly. The midfielder worked doggedly throughout the game making up for his team’s numerical disadvantage. A good honest display.
Forward Robbie Benson had given Athlone the perfect start with a goal in the second minute but a Sean Brennan penalty brought the visitor’s level. Noel McGee then put his side back in front just before the break but an own goal from Robbie Hamm prior to a late Barry Clancy strike gave The Mons all three points.
Brendan Place started with his regular 4-2-3-1 formation with Stephen Place lining out on the bench alongside new signing Davie Tyrell, while Robbie Benson was given a central role playing off Noel McGee in attack.
And indeed things couldn’t have started much better for the home team. Emeka Onwubiko got his head up early and played Benson in on goal and the striker made no mistake with a cool finish, giving him his first senior goal for the club. That strike was the perfect way to mark a fantastic few weeks for Benson after such good performances for his country recently.
Athlone hearts were in mouths then in the 11th minute when goalkeeper Aaron Shanahan cannoned his clearance into Karl Bermingham but he recovered well to gather the ball at the second attempt.
Benson then created space for Noel McGee to get a strike at goal but Ronan McGann saved comfortably. Brian Cleary then prevented a certain goal scoring opportunity with the impressive left back putting in a fantastic last ditch tackle in the penalty box to deny Brennan a sight at goal.
Shanahan got himself into a spot of bother then in the 35th minute when he raced from his penalty area to claim possession but Don Tierney got there first and rounded the ‘keeper but the ball was cleared off the line much to the relief of the ‘Town faithful.
After taking the lead, instead of grabbing this game by the scruff and driving on in a bid to claim all three points, Athlone felt into a lull for certain periods of the game and Monaghan took full advantage and equalised in the 38th minute. A deep cross into the Athlone penalty area wasn’t dealt with by the ‘keeper and when Barry Clancy drove at goal, Thomas McGauley dived and produced a save that most ‘keepers would be proud of to deny him. However, within the rules of the game it’s a sending off offence and he duly received a red card with Brennan dispatching the penalty. Views may be split on McGauley’s decision to punch clear to deny a certain goal. On one hand, he took the bullet by denying a goal. Given the possibility that his ‘keeper could make a stop from the spot; it may have been a good decision. But with it being so early in the game, in hindsight it was a poor one as they were now a man down and had lost a lead. But it's easy for reporters to write about things like that without the pressures that are on a player in the heat of a game.
Since Place took charge, a new feature to Athlone’s play is an ability to counter attack from back to front with great speed and that pretty much sums up Athlone’s second goal in the 45th minute. A good switch from McGee to Benson saw the young left-footer get to the by- line before superbly pulling back for McGee to fire his side back into the lead.
In a fairly dogged second half, both teams didn’t create a host of chances with Monaghan’s five-man midfield cancelling out Athlone’s. Then as the game approached the hour mark Monaghan levelled the scores through a Robbie Hamm own goal. Cathal O’Connor sent a deep cross into the box and with Shanahan racing out to collect Hamm headed the ball back towards his goal in a bid to find his ‘keeper with a simple header back but instead found his own net. Whether Hamm got a shout from Shanahan is unclear but it doesn’t change the outcome.
Monaghan were also reduced to ten men when substitute David Freeman was given his marching orders after blocking an Athlone free then arguing with the decision with referee Padraig Sutton, and thus cancelling out Mons’ numerical advantage.
Cooke’s charges then had a chance to put themselves ahead five minutes later but Bermingham headed over an O’Connor cross from eight yards. Monaghan weren’t to be denied all three points however as Clancy fired home a Brennan pull back in the dying moments of this one to send Monaghan away with a valuable win.
Athlone Town: Aaron Shanahan, Robbie Hamm, Thomas McGauley (s/o), Des Hope, Brian Cleary, Emeka Onwubiko, Kieran O’Reilly, Damien Rushe (Davie Tyrell,70 mins.), Kevin Williamson, Robbie Benson, Noel McGee (Stephen Place, 85 mins.).
Monaghan United: Ronan McGann, Paul Whelan, Shane Grimes, Brian Gartland, Alan Byrne, Don Tierney, Sean Brennan, Cathal O’ Connor, Darren McKenna (Davie Freeman, 75 mins. s/o), Karl Bermingham, Barry Clancy.
Referee: Padraig Sutton
Extra Time.ie Man of the Match: Kieran O’ Reilly. The midfielder worked doggedly throughout the game making up for his team’s numerical disadvantage. A good honest display.
