Mervue United 1 - 2 Athlone Town

• Terry Flaherty
• Sat, Jul 09 2011


Two second half strikes in the space of 15 minutes from Athlone’s top scorer Noel McGee settled this game as he produced two trademark penalty box finishes to claim all three points for the away side on their first visit to Fahy’s Field on Friday night.

It was a game that can only be described using the worn out football cliché of “a game of two halves”, as this perfectly fitted the fare that was on show at Fahy’s Field. Mervue had much the better of the play in the opening half scoring a wonderful goal that would grace any Premiership Match of the Day, while Athlone awoke from their slumber to dominate the second period.

Mervue manager Johnny Glynn made two changes from last week’s defeat to Limerick as Jason Molloy and David Goldbey returned to start replacing the injured Tom King and the unavailable John Mountney. Mike Kerley made three changes to his side from their Wexford win as captain Kevin Williamson, Eoin Monaghan and Declan Cahill came in for the injured Niall Scullion and the absent Dave Ryan and Mark Sherlock.

Mervue flew out of the blocks creating a good chance just two minutes in as a lovely ball between the visitors defence from Goldbey released Molloy down the left and his cross picked out Mike Collins, but his close range effort was blocked by the covering Paul Danaher.

On nine minutes some trickery from the lively Rory Gaffney saw him waltz past a couple of defenders before delivering a dangerous ball into the box which Goldbey pulled wide of Brian Collopy’s goal at the back post. Noel Varley then shot over following a Mervue free-kick which broke to him on the edge of the box after 20 minutes.

The home side eventually took a deserved lead but it was a goal that came out of nothing albeit straight from the top drawer quality wise. Gaffney picked the ball up about 35 yards out directly in front of the Limerick goal and with plenty of space he took one look up before unleashing a magnificent strike into the top corner past a static Brian Collopy on 27 minutes.

Athlone almost pulled level on 34 minutes when McGee turned on the edge of the box and fired a low effort just past Ger Hanley’s post for what was the visitor’s only effort of the first half. Another Gaffney run provided him with space but this time his effort was high and wide as he couldn’t match his previous glorious strike. Molloy also fired high and over Collopy’s crossbar just three minutes before the break as the home side pushed for a second before the break.

From the home team being on top in the opening period, all changed on the re-start as striker McGee opened his account just four minutes in. Eoin Monaghan provided the assist as his low left wing cross was finished past Hanley by McGee with the aid of the inside of the post for 1-1.

The first corner of the game arrived on 56 minutes and that was followed by a smart save from Ger Hanley as he brilliantly tipped a stinging Kevin Williamson drive over the crossbar for another corner. The visitors then hit the front with an almost identical goal to their first one as Monaghan raided down the left before his low cross once again picked out McGee and he made no mistake blasting past Hanley for 2-1 on 64 minutes.

Mervue’s cause was dealt a further blow just three minutes later as Molloy rushed into a rash challenge on Williamson near the touchline and deservedly received a second yellow from referee Conor Fitzgerald as the home side were reduced to ten men.

Athlone then continued to dominate as the home side struggled to create a single chance of note in the second period. McGee had a great chance to complete his hat-trick on 78 minutes but he shot straight at Hanley who gathered his effort gratefully.

Hanley then produced another fine save from Williamson at his near post blocking the Athlone captain’s low effort following another corner kick in the final minute as Mike Kerley’s side finished strongly. With all three points secured Athlone now leapfrog their hosts and move up to seventh, while Mervue drop to eighth.

Mervue Utd: Ger Hanley; David O’Brien, Marc Ludden, Martin Conneely, James Casserley; Noel Varley (Barry McEntee ’55), Kevin Crehan (Paul Lawless ’59), Rory Gaffney, Michael Collins; Jason Molloy, David Goldbey (Alex Lee ’77).
Subs not used: Ger McGrath, TJ Forde (GK).

Booked: James Casserley (25), Jason Molloy (53).
Sent off: Jason Molloy (67).

Athlone Town: Brian Collopy; Declan Fallon (Bobby Tier ’46), Paul Danaher, Mark Walshe, Jamie Carr; Conor Kavanagh, Jason Hughes (Stephen Relihan ’21), Wayne Colbert, Kevin Williamson; Eoin Monaghan, Noel McGee (Ronan Stack ’85).
Subs Not Used: Kevin Dunne, Roy King, Darren Young, Michael Schlingermann (GK).

Booked: Jamie Carr (75).

Referee: Conor Fitzgerald (Galway).
Attendance: 220.
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Noel McGee (Athlone Town).