- Bar OSullivan
- Sun, Mar 15 2009
Athlone Town were deserved winners over Kildare County on Saturday evening, playing some great football in the process, coming from a goal down and scoring three. The win takes them to the top of the first division table on goal difference.
Paddy Mahon gave the Thoroughbreads the lead on 43 minutes - very much against the run of play. Emeka Onwubiko pulled one back before the break, and second half goals from Noel McGee, and Onwubiko again sealed the win.
Two individual errors in quick succession in the Athlone back line gifted the visitors the first chance of the game after 12 minutes, but striker Paddy Mahon wasn't able to capitalise, firing wide from ten yards.
That seemed to spark Athlone to life, Emeka Onwubiko in particular. He struck a right footed shot goalwards two minutes later that cracked off the crossbar before going behind. The former Bray man was in the thick of things again a few moments later.
Making room for himself on the right wing he picked out Kevin Williamson at the back post. Williamson took a touch to steady himself, but wasn't able to keep his volley down.
Athlone continued on top for the rest of the half, but found themselves a goal down after 43 minutes. Paul Rigney curled in a left footed free kick, and Mahon rose unchallenged just four yards from goal to head into the net. Keeper John McGuinness neither came for the cross or moved to try save the header.
It took Brendan Place's side just two minutes to draw level. Athlone broke quickly from defence, playing the ball direct to Stephen Place. Place held it up well and timed his through ball to Onwubiko perfectly. With Colin Cassidy advancing from his line, Onwubiko cooly slipped it past him into the corner of the net
Onwubiko added his second 13 minutes after the restart, finishing from close range after a corner from the left. Last weeks goalscorer against Mervue then got in on the act. Noel McGee made a clever run behind the centre back, collected the through ball, rounded the keeper, and stroked the ball into the empty net.
Athlone Town: John McGuinness; Robbie Hamm (Ian Finlay 90), Des Hope, Brian Cleary, Thomas McGauley; Emeka Onwubiko, Kevin Dunne, Anthony Hayes (Robert Egan 88), Kevin Williamson; Stephen Place, Noel McGee.
Subs not used: Aaron Shanahan (gk), Cathal Joyce, Jamie Duffy.
Kildare County: Colin Cassidy; Eoin Kavanagh (Leslie Kelly 57), Baba Issaka (Alan Thorpe 46), Ken Mahoney, Stephen Burke, Colin Osbourne, Paul Rigney, Rory Brown, Paddy Mahon, Alan Lynch (Daithi Garry 72), Cathal Brady.
Subs not used: Stephen Dunne, Kevin McDonnell.
Referee: Neil Doyle
Attendance: 680
Extratime Man of the Match: Emeka Onwubiko (Athlone Town).
