Wexford Youths 1 - 3 Athlone Town

• James Phelan
• Sat, Oct 16 2010


Athlone Town got a vital three points as they beat Wexford Youths 3-1 at Ferrycarrig Park on Friday night. A brace from Austin Skelly and a late third from substitute Daniel O’Reilly was enough for Athlone to see off a stubborn Youths side.

Shane Dempsey had levelled the score for the Youths with a first half penalty, but in the end Athlone held on for three crucial points.

It was clear to see from the opening exchanges that both sides were coming to the end of a hard fought, long haul of a disappointing League campaign as the opening exchanges were unimpressive and long winded.

That’s until Austin Skelly stepped up to give Athlone the lead after a desperate first seven minutes. Andy Haran was giving far too much time on the ball and his pass found Skelly in the middle of the park around 30 yards from goal. Skelly controlled and immediately struck the ball and stunned the small home crowd as the ball looped over the head of Packie Holden to give Athlone an early lead.

That seemed to ignite a bit of passion and pride into the game as Athlone used it as a platform for the rest of the match.

Athlone had a great chance to double their advantage after 19th minutes after that man again Skelly was taken down on the edge of the box by Garret McCurtin.

Ryan McEvoy stepped up to take the resulting free-kick and his strike curled around the Youths wall, but luckily for Holden in goal the ball hit the post and Wexford cleared the danger.

It was all Athlone at this stage and it looked like it was going to be another stressful and frustrating night for Wexford manager Noel O’Connor and the Youths faithful. As the first half ticked on the Youths gradually began to find their rhythm and Kevin Rowe went very close to finding an equaliser after 25 minutes, but his shot went just wide of the left hand post.

It looked like the Youths weren’t going to be able to break a tough Athlone shell as the first half entered stoppage time. Step up Garret McCurtin.

The full-back has been extremely underestimated, underappreciated and underused by the Youths this year, but he was the flavour of the half as he was at the centre of their equaliser. McCurtin played a neat pass into Greg Yelverton’s path and continued his run. Yelverton chipped a pass over the top of the Athlone defence and McCurtin was one on one with the keeper. Athlone’s goalkeeper Michael Schlingerman took him down and the referee pointed to the spot without any hesitation.

Shane Dempsey took responsibility for the spot kick and made no mistake as he smashed a thumping shot into the top left corner which left Schlingerman in the Athlone net with no chance, 1-1 and game on.

Referee Rob Daly blew the whistle for half-time and after Athlone started so promising they must have been gutted to go into the break level.

The Youths started the second half the brighter and had the first chance of the half through Kevin Rowe. Shane Nolan, who looks like a very talented and promising footballer, played the ball to Gary Sheahan down the right flank. Sheahan looked up and his low cross fell into the path of Rowe, but the winger got his feet mixed up and scuffed his shot, a major let off for Athlone. The Youths were made to pay for not taking that chance as Athlone took the lead in the 63rd minute thanks to that man again Skelly. A hopeful and aimless ball up the centre of the park wasn’t dealt with by the usually so dependable Anto Russell. Skelly ran onto the loose ball and kept his composure as Packie Holden ran off his line to try and apply some pressure. It was to no avail as Skelly was coolness personified and slotted a low strike into the Youths net. It really is true what they say; a goal can really change a game and that’s exactly what happened at Ferrycarrig Park. The Youths were on top, Athlone score and then they were on top. Pure simple football mathematics.

That goal really affected the Youths momentum and they were further punished on the 80 minute mark as Athlone finished them off and ended the game as a contest.

Second half substitute Daniel O’Reilly put the game beyond doubt after a smart counter attack by Athlone. As the Youths pushed for an equaliser Shane Nolan lost the ball in the middle of the park to Garvan Broughall who played the ball wide to Shane Fitzgerald, also a second half substitute.

Fitzgerald ran at Russell and then squared the ball to O’ Reilly who had the simple task of beating Holden in the Youths goal, 3-1.

The Youths had one last chance deep into stoppage time as Danny Furlong hit the post with a half volley from the edge of the box, but in the end Athlone held on for the precious points.

It was only Athlone’s second win at Ferrycarrig Park in six attempts and it moves them within three points of the Youths.

For the Youths it’s been a difficult season as they have had to deal with several changes in personal, but they will rebuild and should be a better and stronger unit next season.

With only two games left in the season both sides have little to play for, but the pride of their jerseys.

Wexford Youths: Holden 6; McCurtin 7; Nolan 7 (Mullen 5 ‘85th); Russell 5; Wolfe 6; Dempsey 6 (Ryan 6 ‘59th); Broaders 6 (Kenny 6 ‘68th); Yelverton 6; Furlong 6; Sheahan 7; Rowe 6
Unused substitutes: Pa Doyle; Martin Kehoe.

Athlone Town: Schlingerman 6; Nolan 6; Broughall 6; Collins 6; Moran 6; McCarthy 7; Haran 6 (O’Reilly 7 ‘68th); Relihan 6; Skelly 9; Hughes 7 (Fitzgerald 6 ‘62nd); McEvoy 7
Unused Substitutes: Ronan Stack; Kieran Maloney; Scott Gaynor.

Wexford Youths: Dempsey ‘36th (Yellow)
Athlone Town: Schlingerman ‘45th (Yellow) McCarthy ‘45th (Yellow) Moran ‘79th (Yellow)
Referee: Rob Daly
Entertainment: 5/10: Not a game to be remembered, but a sweet three points for the Town.

Extratime man of the match: Austin Skelly: An energetic and an in your face performance. Deserved his two goals and on another night he could have had a hat-trick.