U17 League Report: Dundalk U17 2 - 1 Athlone Town U17

• Tom O'Connor
• Mon, Apr 25 2016




Dundalk started off on the front foot with Scott Prendergast being denied from 10 yards following great build up play by Luke Gorham. The striker himself then had an effort cleared off the line in the 11^th minute following great wing play by Shane Gregory. Prendergast found himself on the wrong end of some impressive defending a few minutes later as an Athlone Town defender threw himself on the ground to twice deny the home team an opening goal.

 

The away side threatened through Oran Murphy’s effort in the 20^th minute which just flew past his namesake Luke’s post. Joe Carmody then tested the keeper’s reflexes but his long range effort was well saved. Liam Burns’ men attacked again and a powerful run from Luke Gorham saw Rowden save well with his feet.

 

Ten minutes later, in the 36^th minute, Jack O’Keefe shot narrowly over while, from the kick out, the away team almost break the deadlock but Farrell couldn’t find a target after bursting into the box.  However, the deadlock was broken less than five minutes later as a long ball from the Dundalk defence found Luke Gorham on the wing and he laid the ball back for Shane Gregory to curl home a superb opener from the edge of the area.

 

The second half began with a scare as Jackson cleared a Farrell effort off the line. However, they regrouped well and Jack O’Keefe tested Rowden. The keeper held firm. However, the Dundalk forward wasn’t to be denied for long and, 10 minutes after his 55^th minute effort, he extended Dundalk’s lead with a tidy close range finish following great build up play by Shane Gregory.

 

Their lead was cut three minutes later as Laung slipped a close range finish past Luke Murphy and Athlone almost equalised in the 75^th minute but Farrell’s strike kissed the post.  Athlone Town continued to put the pressure on the home side but Liam Burns’ troops weren’t to be denied the three points with Luke Murphy diving full length to deny substitute Costello in injury time.

 

Dundalk FC: Luke Murphy, Liam Jackson, Jack Mc Kenna, James Prendergast, Andrew Mooney, Thomas Martin, Adam Finnegan, Scott Prendergast, Jack O’Keefe, Shane Gregory, Luke Gorham

Subs: Jordan Kelly, Tauvydas Semelevicius, Jack Reid, Ryan Kavanagh (not used)

 

Athlone Town FC: Matthew Rowden, Kieran Colclough, Jonathan Moloney, Joe Dwyer, Nathan Poland, Joe Carmody, Oran Murphy, David Fortune, Conor Laung, Cian Farrell, Luke Kelly

Subs: John Rattigan, Peter Gillooly (both unused) Patrick Gantly, Paul Costello, Adam Dodd