League Report: Athlone Town 1 - 3 Galway United

Two goals in the final few minutes by substitutes Francely Lomboto and Manu Dimas kept Galway’s hopes alive in the First Division title race. 

Both goals were mired in dispute for offside and possible handball respectively. The Tribesmen will just be glad to emerge from a game with a win.

It was yet another disappointment from bottom of the table Athlone Town. Aside from the late drama, they also had a penalty turned down. It was a sucker punch just after they had landed a fine equaliser.  

Athlone made just one change from the victory in the midlands derby. Patrick Hickey taking the place of Shane Barnes. The visitors had Ed McCarthy suspended after his red card at Turner’s Cross. Manu Dimas also dropped to the bench. Oisin O’ Reilly and Wilson Waweru started for them.  

The home side were boosted by only their second win of the season last weekend and looked to get at their opponents straight away. The early ploy was to exploit the pace of Thomas Oluwa on the break, and it almost paid dividends as the pacy attacker fed Gary Armstrong. His shot lacked strength and was gathered easily. 

Galway United were getting joy from set-pieces and were presented with a free after a Noah Van Geenen challenge just outside the area. Conor McCormack played it to David Hurley whose effort was blocked away. 

Hurley did play an important part in the opening goal but yet again Athlone shot themselves in the foot. From their own corner, Galway broke out with Hurley. Osaze Iruhe won the ball back but under-hit his backpass.

Van Geenen tried to clear it away but missed the ball which ran through to Robert Manley. The recent signing kept his composure to slot past Vladislav Velkin for his second goal for his new club. 

The visitors then had a claim for a penalty as Stephen Walsh went to ground in the area. The referee waved away his protests. 

Athlone almost equalised out of the blue. The ball was played long towards Glen McAuley who did well to win it in the air. It fell to Oluwa whose fierce shot was beaten away by Conor Kearns. It came back out to McAuley who failed to get much purchase on his attempt. Players were also waiting inside for a pass. 

The game was quite open at this point. Hurley found Oisin O’Reilly from a free but his low cross failed to get a connection. At the other end, Lennon found Oluwa whose cross forced Charlie Lyons to head it away. McAuley 

Athlone began the second-half in positive fashion. Oluwa ran onto an Armstrong pass but was flagged offside. An inventive low corner almost led to an equaliser from Aaron McBride. His precise shot into the bottom corner was beaten away from Kearns. 

John Caulfield was unhappy with proceedings and made three immediate changes on the hour. As much as they tried to seal the win, the likes of Patrick Hickey and McBride stood firm. 

Galway were dropping increasingly deeper and almost paid the price. Armstrong cut inside from the left and clipped the ball into area. The ball seemed to have struck Conor O’Keeffe on the arm but nothing was given. 

Athlone could well have believed the game was beyond them but found an equaliser in style. Andy Spain won the ball from Hurley in midfield before advancing into space. Galway defenders backed off and he let fly with an effort that screamed past Kearns. 

Almost immediately Galway found themselves back in front. They won the ball and played it forward to Lomboto. He cut inside and shot into the bottom corner. Velkin would have been disappointed to have been beaten at his near post. The defenders were adamant he was offside when receiving the ball. It looked extremely tight.  

The game was put to bed in even more controversial circumstances. Walsh seemed to have handled the ball in midfield, but the referee Gavin Colfer looked to have allowed Athlone the advantage. Galway came forward instead as Walsh fed Hurley. His low cross was tapped home by Manu Dimas.

Tempers boiled over and Aaron Connolly saw a second yellow for reacting to Walsh. 

Boos at the final whistle. It does not get any easier for Athlone as they travel to play Drogheda in the FAI Cup before a trip to Turner’s Cross the following Friday. Galway play away to Bluebell in cup action before hosting Wexford in the league.     

Athlone Town: Vladislav Velkin; Patrick Hickey, Osaze Irhue (Cian Kelly 46), Aaron McBride, Noah van Geenan; Aaron Connolly, Oisin Duffy (c) (Andy Spain 46), Adam Lennon; Gary Armstrong, Glen McAuley (Valerij Dolia 77), Thomas Oluwa.

Subs not used: Mark Smith, Daniel Dobbin, Donal Curtin, Cameron Mulready, Matthew McCarrick.

Booked: Aaron Connolly (25), Patrick Hickey (59), Aaron Connolly (90).

Sent off: Aaron Connolly (90).

Galway United: Conor Kearns; James Finnerty, Charlie Lyons, Conor O'Keeffe, Oisin O'Reilly (Diego Portilla 60); Max Hemmings (David Tarmey 90), David Hurley, Conor McCormack (c); Rob Manley (Francely Lomboto 60), Stephen Walsh (Mikie Rowe 90), Wilson Waweru (Manu Dimas 60).
 

Subs not used: Matthew Connor, Evan O'Connor, Ben Molloy, Mark Russell.
 

Booked: Oisin O'Reilly (40) ,Stephen Walsh (66) Max Hemmings (90).

Referee: Alan Patchell

extratime.com Player of the Match: Patrick Hickey (Athlone Town)