Another good result in the first division cup for the 'Thoroughbreds'.
Well taken goals by Philip Gorman and sub. Keith O'Connor with an Athlone o.g. in between ensured three points for Keely's men on the road in St. Mels Park last Friday night.
It was a well contested game with excellent commitment on both sides as could be seen from some of the tackling.
Unlike others, County seem well-up for this competition as it represents a realistic chance of silverware albeit in a makeshift competition.
County raised their game from their previous encounter with UCD although that could be due to the standard of the opposition.
Athlone weren't a patch on the UCD side from the previous week and they missed a finisher up front as the County goals remained intact.
They had a glorious chance with 10 minutes to go after Gavin Dykes fouled in the box.
Up stepped the Athlone keeper who was already having a very dodgy evening and he was denied brilliantly by Tadgh Murphy low to his right.
Murphy is having a fine start to the year and is a keeper of real quality. He may get judged too quickly because of his lack of height but his shot stopping ability is top drawer.
Kildare chased and harried all night long which as a supporter is something you want to see. Long may it continue.
Whelehan and O'Connor were solid in midfield as were Dykes and Maher in defence.
Upfront Michael McCann impressed in his first start and his footwork in nutmegging the Athlone defender led to an o.g. in the first half.
He also lay on the through ball for Gorman to slot home earlier on.
Keith O'Connor killed the game off with an explosive finish from the edge of the box at the end to round of a good night on the road for the handful of County supporters who braved bank holiday weekend traffic to support the team.
Gavin Doyle had a quiet night while Shay Zellor came on as a second half sub. These two wide men will be very important to County's season and we hope they are back on song this saturday against Waterford.
After Alan Kelly's display on the wing they both will need to lift their game to get a starting slot.
Competition for places is always healthy.
Next up Waterford United in Newbridge on Saturday night .
08/08/2002, 1:25 PM
KCFC
Leader report on game
By David Lynch at St. Mel’s Park
BOTH Athlone Town and Kildare County had suffered defeat in the Second Round of the FAI Cup in the week previous to Friday nights First Division Cup clash in Athlone, but this is where the comparisons end between the teams.
One team looked like a club facing an extremely long and difficult season, finding it hard to get goals and keeping their defence tight. The other set of players looked confident, scoring goals freely, and with a season full of hope and an outside chance of promotion ahead of them.
Thankfully for everyone involved at the Thoroughbred’s, Kildare County were very much the latter. A tree nil thumping of Athlone Town has brought County within touching distance of a cup final appearance in the First Division Cup. This would be an amazing feat for a club which was only established three months ago.
After a slow start, County bossed the majority of the first 45 minutes with Philip Gorman and Michael McCann working well together up front. Gorman’s goal on 28 came from a quick break with Michael McCann holding the ball up well before letting his striking partner through on goal.
Gorman took his goal with great skill slotting it low to the goalkeepers left. It was Brownstown native Gorman's second goal in County colours and gave him the perfect boost before his call-up to Don O'Riordan's Eircom League U21 squad to face Celtic at Ballybofey on Sunday evening.
Damien Maher on 29 and Gorman again on 32 came close to extending County’s lead, then one minute before the break an own goal by Town’s Alan Oliver put the away side two goals ahead.
The own goal came after great work on the edge of the box by McCann who was very exciting in the first 45, using the ball intelligently. Alan Kelly was a constant handful for Athlone’s defence as he made raids down the left. Gavin Doyle looked a little out of sorts on the right hand side of midfield and was substituted by Dermot Keely at half-time.
The second half was dire, with Town unable to drag themselves into the game and County losing concentration and the ball too often.
The scrappiness of the play did not suit County and then after a mix up on 81 minutes between goalkeeper Tadgh Murphy and defender Gavin Dykes let Gary Devine into the 5 yard box, and Murphy pulled him down.
For the second match in a row, Murphy saved the resulting penalty kick which was taken by his opposite number, Athlone Town goalkeeper Shane Curran.
The Athlone keeper has taken penalties in GAA for Roscommon but for the second week in a row Kildare County's goalkeeper came good and produced a brilliant stop to push Curran's spot-kick around his upright.
This was Town’s final chance, and the home side were killed off in the final minute when County’s substitute Keith O’Conner drilled a shot past the keeper after finding space behind Athlone’s defence.
A very impressive display overall by County has moved the side within one result of a cup final appearance, all eyes will now turn to Station Road Newbridge this Friday night for the clash with Waterford United.
ATHLONE TOWN - Curran; Oliver, Collins, C Frawley, Shine, Clarke, Kenny, S Kelly, Molloy, Parkes, Devine. Subs - Rushe for Clarke 56 mins; Dowling for Molloy 78.
KILDARE COUNTY - Tadhg Murphy; Damian Brennan, James O'Callaghan, Damian Maher, Gavin Dykes, Gavin Doyle, Ben Whelehan, Cathal O'Connor, Alan Kelly, Philip Gorman, Michael McCann. Subs - Shay Zellor for Doyle 46 mins; John Ryan for McCann 60; Keith O'Connor for Gorman 72.
