- Stephen Pollard
- Fri, Mar 29 2013
Athlone Town and Salthill Devon shared the spoils after a six goal thriller on Friday evening in which Enda Curran bagged a hat trick whilst Philly Gorman grabbed a brace before being red carded.
The game started slowly with neither sides creating anything of note in the opening ten minutes. The game came to life on 16 minutes when Neil Harney brought Enda Curran down inside the area and referee Alan Sherlock pointed to the spot. Curran picked himself up and calmly converted past Paul Skinner from twelve yards.
Athlone Town didn't wait long to equalise. Some good play down the right from Garbhan Coughlan and Ryan Coombes saw the latter find space in the area. He curled the ball around James Keane and bring Town back into the game.
The goal seemed to wake the home team up, with Roddy Collins Junior forcing Keane into a save. From the resulting corner Niall Lanigan crossed and ex-Shelbourne forward Philly Gorman headed home from close range.
Just four minutes later, another Lanigan corner found the head of Aidan Collins who fired the ball past Keane, only for it to be disallowed for no apparent reason. To make matters worse for the midlanders, on 36 minutes, a mazy run from Derek O'Brien found Enda Curran, who slotted the ball past Skinner for a second time to level the scores again.
With five minutes remaining in the half, a ball in from Ian Sweeney found Philly Gorman, who arrowed his header home to put Town ahead again. They could have made it four moments later, a defence splitting ball from Mark Hughes found Coughlan but he could only find the side netting with his finish.
In similar fashion to the first, Salthill started the second half brighter, but it was Athlone who created the first opening, Garbhan Coughlan shooting right at netminder James Keane with the goal gapping in front of him.
On 54 minutes, a foolish challenge from Gorman on Robbie Gaul, resulted in a red card for the striker. The game then began to get feisty, with yellow cards for Mark Hughes of Athlone and Craig Harding of Salthill Devon before the hour mark.
Jakub Tomanica replaced the injured Derek O'Brien on 65 minutes which saw the Galway side adopt a more attacking formation. The game went through a rare dry period with Athlone content to rest on their laurels. Devon where unable to force an opening until, on 77 minutes, when Harding was brought down inside the area, but his shouts for a penalty where waved away.
Inside the final ten minutes, Athlone began to really sit back. On 82 minutes, a close range bullet from Cian Fadden was brilliantly saved by Skinner.
With two minutes left, a cross from Jonathan Kelty found Mark Hughes but he blazed over. That miss cost Athlone as just moments later Timmy Molloy's cross found Enda Curran who completed his hat-trick with a well placed header.
In the final minute of additional time, Niall Scullion broke free, but he couldn't control the ball and Keane collected the ball as the game ended all square at three goals a-piece.
Athlone Town: Paul Skinner; Roddy Collins, Conor McMahon, Aidan Collins, Neil Harney; Niall Lanigan, Mark Hughes, Ryan Coombes (Niall Scullion 82), Ian Sweeney (Jonathan Kelty 68); Philly Gorman, Garbhan Coughlan (Lee Dixon 90).
Subs not used: Criag Sexton (GK), Robbie Clarke, Garvan Broughall, Noel McGee.
Booked: Hughes (59), Lannigan (90+2).
Sent Off: Gorman (54).
Salthill Devon: James Keane; Nicky Curran, Robbie Gaul, Cian Fadden, Colm Horgan (Timmy Molloy 74 ) ; Graham Kelly (Craig Harding 12), Brian Gaffney, Michael Harty, Derek O'Brien (Jacob Tomanica 65) ; Enda Curran, Jean Biamsumba.
Subs not used: Ronan Forde (GK), Steven Rodden, Adam Hynes.
Booked: Horgan (40), Harty (40), Harding (56), E Curran (73), N Curran (73).
Referee: Alan Sherlock.
Attendance: 591
Extratime Man of the Match: Enda Curran (Salthill Devon).
