Galway United 3 - 1 Athlone Town

**atfconline** · 23/11/2002, 9:11 PM

On Saturday night at Terryland Park Galway United's Tony Folan scored an unbelievable goal that will go down in Galway soccer folklore. That goal arrived on 89 minutes when United 2-1 to the good were hanging on for three points, Tony Folan received the ball just outside his own penalty box and made a surging run down the middle of the park skipping by five challenges. Tony then found himself on the edge of the Athlone box and with two of his team-mates in support namely, Barry Moran and Alan Murphy, Tony hit a cracking drive into the bottom corner giving Paul Brennan in the Athlone goal no chance.

Galway did not have the match all their own way, as Athlone took the lead on 37 minutes. The goal came about after Athlone's Stephen Kelly linked up with strike partner Stephen Mullan who forced Galway's Forde into a fine save. From the resultant corner taken by Henry Kenny, Ronan Frawley rose highest in the box to head home. The large contingent of Athlone fans had something to sing about. The lead lasted all of 5 minutes after a corner kick taken by Tony Folan was sent into a crowded goalmouth, Mayo's Alan Murphy received the ball at his feet and turned on a spin and fired home the equaliser to make it four goals in four games for last seasons top goal scorer.

The second half was 6 minutes old when Galway United's October player of the month Colin Fortune sent in a dangerous free kick into Athlone's box. Galway's Mark Herrick met it perfectly to head home Galway's second goal past Athlone's goalkepper Paul Brennan, who has taken over the number 1 jersey from Shane Curran, (Shane Curran the eccentric Roscommon kepper who lined out against Mayo in the All-Ireland qualifying match of this year).

This win puts United into second place ahead of Cobh on goal difference. The level of entertainment in Terryland has certainly risen in the past few games, our last home game against Cobh saw Alan Murphy score a Spectacular goal in a game when four players saw red. Last Saturdays game was a bit lacklustre in the second half until Tony Folan did something that only he is capable of. The only disappointment was that there was no camera there on the night as this goal would surely win any goal of the month competition.

Galway United line up:
R.Forde, N.Keady, D.Sheridan, F.Carter, M.Quirke, T.Folan, D.O'Brien, M.Herrick,
C.Fortune, A.Murphy, B.Moran.
Subs: M Harty for M.Quirke (25mins, inj), J. Brennan for C.Fortune(84mins), O.Keogh for D.O'Brien (86mins)
Goals: A.Murphy(42mins), M.Herrick(51mins), T.Folan(89mins)
Yellow Cards: D.O'Brien, D.Sheridan

©galwayunitedfc.ie

**Oh No** · 25/11/2002, 9:41 AM

This was on the Eircom League message board :

"Tony Folan GUFC scored an incredible goal taking on the whole athlone team from inside his own box and picking his spot from 20 yards out to beat the athlone goalie"

Now, assuming that Folan is no world beater then what are we at lads????