First Division round-up: Waterford and Athlone Town play out thriller as Galway win again

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Keith Long’s Waterford played out a seven-goal thriller against Athlone Town at the RSC on Friday night as they claimed a 4-3 win.

But the win could have been more straightforward for the Blues after they raced into a 4-0 lead inside 40 minutes.

Athlone responded in the second-half with three goals – although it was not to be as they were defeated by a single goal,

Ronan Coughlan scored four for Waterford in their victory, with his first arriving in the 9th minute of the game.

He scored again in the 27th minute to make it 2-0 before then grabbing his hat-trick in the 38th.

The former Huddersfield Town youth then netted his fourth in the 40th minute.

However, goals from Patrick Hickey, Frantz Pierrot and Valerii Dolia ensured Athlone left the RSC with more than enough credit in the bank for their display.

Meanwhile, league leaders Galway United won their 10th game on the spin thanks to a 4-1 win away to Kerry at Mounthawk Park.

The Kingdom remarkably took the lead in this encounter but four goals from John Caulfield’s side spared their blushes on the road.

Striker Ryan Kelliher opened the scoring for Billy Dennehy’s side before David Hurley levelled on the stroke of half-time.



And two goals before the hour mark from Stephen Walsh and Colm Horgan pushed United clear of their gallant opponents.

Walsh then scored again in the 69th minute to put the gloss on a 4-1 win.

Elsewhere, Wexford’s inconsistencies reared its ugly head again as they lost 1-0 at home to Finn Harps.

James Crawford, the son of Ireland under-21 boss Jim, scored an 86th minute own-goal as Dave Rogers’ side left Ferrycarrig Park with a hard-fought win.

And at St Colman’s Park, Treaty United took a point from their clash with Cobh Ramblers.

Jack Doherty gave Shane Keegan’s side an early lead but a leveller from Colin Conroy in the 20th minute sealed a point for Treaty. 



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