Under-21's overcome Garda

The Under 21's beat Garda on Tuesday night to progress to the last 8 of the Enda McGuill League Cup.

Athlone opened the scoring after about 10 minutes, when Trevor Moylan got onto a long cross that nobody on the Garda team bothered to try and block! He ran on for about 40 yards with no one to beat but the keeper and hit it home nicely to the bottom left corner. He also had new signing Kevin Cassidy in support.

Garda were pretty much restricted to a few long range efforts in the first half, while Cassidy should have got his first goal for the Club after about 25 minutes, but he reacted to the handball claims from the Garda defenders, but when he did shot, he shot just over.

Harney should have doubled the lead before halftime, but he headed straight at the kepper, albeit the keeper was right on top of him. He just couldn't get the ball out from under his feet, and when the ball made it's way to Cassidy, his effort was taken off the line by a defender.

Athlone should have buried them in the first 20 minutes or so of the second half. They were totally on top with chance after chance, mainly from Sherlock and Cassidy, though Moylan and Hope went close with a free and header respectively.

However Garda were next on the scoresheet, when their No 9 Lorcan Cronin shot past Moran from a rebound. Moran had pulled off a fantastic one handed save from Cronin just minutes later.

After that, Athlone pretty much fell apart for awhile, though it has to be said, Garda weren't all that good.

It stayed 1-1 after 90 minutes though, so went into extra time, and the silver goal. Athlone got the goal after about 6 minutes, with good build up play from Rowan and Sherlock setting up Harney.

Athlone then had to play out a nervy final ten minutes to take the win and progress to the quarter finals where they will meet Bohs.

Positives on the night were both Molloy and Hope coming through a full ninety minutes. Cassidy looked pretty good too.

Athlone Town: David Moran, Eoin Fox, Paul Murphy, Des Hope, Robert Shine, Jamie Rowan, Michael Harney, Tervor Moylan, Mark Sherlock, Kevin Cassidy & Eric Molloy. Subs: John Molloy for Cassidy, Mark Kearney for E Molloy.

Garda: Kenneth Graigie, Jack Beckett, Kenneth Butler, Ian McCAbe, Anthony Brazil, Derek Roche, Philip Kelly, Stephen Owens, Lorcan Cronin, David Owens, Gary Lawless. Subs: Padraig Hearne for Lawless, Robert Collins for S Owens.