League Report: Galway United 1 - 2 Athlone Town

Paul Corcoran reports from Eamonn Deacy Park

Athlone Town came away with a 2-1 win at Eamonn Deacy Park on Friday night, the victory is their fourth win from their last six games.

Dermot Lennon’s side came from behind to win with Adam Lennon and Thomas Oluwa scoring the goals after Stephen Walsh put the home side in front early on.

David Tarmey came into the Galway starting eleven for his first start for the club since making his debut earlier this season, Charlie Lyons dropped to the bench after the side’s 1-1 draw with Treaty United last weekend.

For Athlone, there were four changes with Enda Minogue, Andy Spain, Gary Armstrong and Derek Daly all making way for Vladislav Velikin, Daniel Dobbin, Oisin Duffy and Aaron McBride.

It didn’t take long for the home side to get their noses in front, Athlone’s Noah Van Geenan was caught in possession at the back in the second minute when Stephen Walsh stripped him of the ball. The striker took aim from the edge of the box and blasted the ball beyond the reaches of Vladislav Velikin for the lead.

The visitors could have been in for a goal in the 12^th minute when Connolly won the ball after some poor play by Galway in midfield allowing Athlone to breakaway on goal, the midfielder’s ball to Jarlath Jones was poor with Conor O’Keeffe reading it well to slide in and clear the ball from danger.

Athlone drew level in the 18^th minute in spectacular fashion, United gave the Town’s forward players too much space and when Adam Lennon received the ball on the edge of the box he let fly and gave Conor Kearns no chance as the ball struck the top corner of the net.

David Hurley drew an excellent save from Velikin in the 33^rd minute when he took the ball on the turn and struck a shot on goal from the edge of the box, it looked like it would dip under the cross bar, but the goalkeeper acrobatically dived to flick the ball behind.

United went close again in the 42^nd minute when Killian Brouder met a David Hurley corner-kick inside the box, the ball fell just short of the goal line and Athlone managed to scramble the ball away to safety.

David Tarmey had the ball in the net close to half time with a lovely strike into the bottom corner of the net, it was marginal, but the flag went up almost immediately to flag the young striker for offside.

Just after the re-start Max Hemmings went close for the home side, Ronan Manning played the ball out wide to the Englishman and he cut inside his marker and rattled a shot on goal with Veliken unable to hold on to the ball when he made the save.

At the other end, Conor Kearns had to be sharp when Thomas Oluwa managed to battle for possession and set up Daniel Dobbin for a run in on goal, he made it inside the box before shooting with his effort taking a deflection, but the goalkeeper managed to react quickly to claim the ball.

Second half substitute Bastien Hery did well to win the ball in the middle of the park in the 67^th minute, he played the ball through to fellow sub Oisin O’Reilly on the left with the midfielder able to cut inside for a shot, but Veliken again made a good save for the visitors.

Absolute calamity from the home side with just ten minutes to go, O’Reilly lost the ball in Athlone’s half when he tried to cut in from the left. The ball was cleared forward and Killian Brouder coughed up possession to Oluwa who ran in on goal and placed the ball into the net.

Galway United: Conor Kearns; Killian Brouder, James Finnerty, Max Hemmings, Conor O'Keeffe; David Hurley, Ronan Manning (Bastien Hery 56), Edward McCarthy, Mikie Rowe (Oisin O'Reilly 56); David Tarmey (Wilson Waweru 56), Stephen Walsh.

Subs not used: Matthew Connor, Diego Portilla, Charlie Lyons, Adam Thomas, Manu Dimas.

Booked: Conor O'Keeffe (63), Bastien Hery (84), Wilson Waweru (89).

Athlone Town: Vladislav Velkin; Oisin Duffy, Jarlath Jones, Aaron McBride, Noah van Geenan; Aaron Connolly, Daniel Dobbin (Jack Kavanagh 65), Patrick Hickey, Adam Lennon (Gary Armstrong 85), Charles Mutawe; Thomas Oluwa (Blake Ryan 90).

Subs not used: Enda Minogue, Donal Curtin, Andy Spain, Cameron Mulready, Cian Kelly, Matthew Leal.

Booked: Patrick Hickey (26) Aaron McBride (62).

Referee: Declan Toland.

Attendance: 1,500 (estimate)

extratime.com Player of the Match: Aaron Connolly (Athlone Town)

Collie O’Neill named Head Coach for proposed Shamrock Rovers WNL team https://t.co/w1Fyu0lYsCpic.twitter.com/S8ISPP68kA

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