atfconline
02/08/2002, 10:28 PM
And so the goal drought continues, as Athlone Town went down 3-0 to league new-comers Kildare County in St. Mel's Park this evening.
Athlone started the brighter of the two sides and had a number of early chances, but like most chances created this season, none of them were converted. Skipper Stephen Kelly rifled a shot at County keeper Tadhg Murphy on the half hour mark, but the young Murphy made a great save to keep it at 0-0. The ball was then hit up field and Philip Gorman ran into the box under very little pressure, picked his spot and knocked the ball off the post into the back of the net. Curran should have done alot better, but the defense was nowhere to be seen either. While it looked like Athlone would only go in one down at half time, Kildare had other ideas. Some lax defending from young Robert Shine on the right, let Kildare in for their second. Shine just let his man stroll by him, nutmegging him in the process to pass the ball into the box, hitting off Olivers knee and into the back of the net. Well at least now three Athlone players have scored this season. After starting the game positively, Athlone fell to pieces after conceeding the first goal.
Again, Athlone started the second half better than Kildare, without having any clear cut chances. Damien Rushe came on to replace Alan Clarke after fifteen minutes. Rushe had some good touches, as did Parkes up front. Parkes made a great run on 70 minutes, running around a few Kildare defenders, but his pass onto Gary Devine just had too much pace. Kildare then brought on Keith O'Connor for their goal-scorer Gorman after he picked up a yellow card. The referee stopped play on 80 minutes as Kildare's number two, Damien Brennan had lost his number! County manager Dermot Keely was none too pleased! Davy Dowling then came on, replacing Eric Molloy who had a relatively quiet game. Dowling had a good diving header chance, but he just couldn't stretch far enough to connect with the ball. Three minutes later and Athlone had a great chance with Gary Devine running in the box getting ready to take a shot when he was blatently taken down by the Kildare defender. The referee pointed to the spot, and up stepped Curran! However, after all his play-acting, Murphy made a great save to his right to deny the Athlone number one. Things then went from bad to worse, as substitute O'Connor drilled the ball home from 15 yards to the top of the Town net in the 90th minute. Curran had no chance, but again the Town defense was nowhere to be seen.
The good humoured referee Mr Tuite soon blew up to put Athlone out of their misery. After another 3-0 defeat it is hard to be positive, but there are things to be positive about. Even though Athlone suffered their second 3-0 defeat this week, there are things to be positive about. Kildare are expected to be near the top of table come January, but tonight they were a very ordinary side, one that Athlone could have beaten had they a goal-scorer. The other League favourites Finn Harps and Dundalk are playing in the Northern Section of the First Division Cup, so we haven't seen them play yet, but by all accounts they are both strong this year. So next up is Limerick next Thursday in Limericj in our final game before the First Division kicks off. That campaign begins in Waterford on August 22nd.
ATHLONE TOWN: Shane Curran, Alan Oliver, Micky Collins, Robert Shine, Conor Frawley, Henry Kenny, Alan Clarke, Gary Devine, Warren Parkes, Stephen Kelly, Eric Molloy. Subs: Damien Rushe for Clarke, Davy Dowling for Molloy.
Athlone started the brighter of the two sides and had a number of early chances, but like most chances created this season, none of them were converted. Skipper Stephen Kelly rifled a shot at County keeper Tadhg Murphy on the half hour mark, but the young Murphy made a great save to keep it at 0-0. The ball was then hit up field and Philip Gorman ran into the box under very little pressure, picked his spot and knocked the ball off the post into the back of the net. Curran should have done alot better, but the defense was nowhere to be seen either. While it looked like Athlone would only go in one down at half time, Kildare had other ideas. Some lax defending from young Robert Shine on the right, let Kildare in for their second. Shine just let his man stroll by him, nutmegging him in the process to pass the ball into the box, hitting off Olivers knee and into the back of the net. Well at least now three Athlone players have scored this season. After starting the game positively, Athlone fell to pieces after conceeding the first goal.
Again, Athlone started the second half better than Kildare, without having any clear cut chances. Damien Rushe came on to replace Alan Clarke after fifteen minutes. Rushe had some good touches, as did Parkes up front. Parkes made a great run on 70 minutes, running around a few Kildare defenders, but his pass onto Gary Devine just had too much pace. Kildare then brought on Keith O'Connor for their goal-scorer Gorman after he picked up a yellow card. The referee stopped play on 80 minutes as Kildare's number two, Damien Brennan had lost his number! County manager Dermot Keely was none too pleased! Davy Dowling then came on, replacing Eric Molloy who had a relatively quiet game. Dowling had a good diving header chance, but he just couldn't stretch far enough to connect with the ball. Three minutes later and Athlone had a great chance with Gary Devine running in the box getting ready to take a shot when he was blatently taken down by the Kildare defender. The referee pointed to the spot, and up stepped Curran! However, after all his play-acting, Murphy made a great save to his right to deny the Athlone number one. Things then went from bad to worse, as substitute O'Connor drilled the ball home from 15 yards to the top of the Town net in the 90th minute. Curran had no chance, but again the Town defense was nowhere to be seen.
The good humoured referee Mr Tuite soon blew up to put Athlone out of their misery. After another 3-0 defeat it is hard to be positive, but there are things to be positive about. Even though Athlone suffered their second 3-0 defeat this week, there are things to be positive about. Kildare are expected to be near the top of table come January, but tonight they were a very ordinary side, one that Athlone could have beaten had they a goal-scorer. The other League favourites Finn Harps and Dundalk are playing in the Northern Section of the First Division Cup, so we haven't seen them play yet, but by all accounts they are both strong this year. So next up is Limerick next Thursday in Limericj in our final game before the First Division kicks off. That campaign begins in Waterford on August 22nd.
ATHLONE TOWN: Shane Curran, Alan Oliver, Micky Collins, Robert Shine, Conor Frawley, Henry Kenny, Alan Clarke, Gary Devine, Warren Parkes, Stephen Kelly, Eric Molloy. Subs: Damien Rushe for Clarke, Davy Dowling for Molloy.