DUNDALK RETURNED TO the top of the SSE Airtricity League courtesy of a 2-0 win over basement club Athlone Town tonight, with goals from Patrick Hoban and Brian Gartland ensuring there was no let-up in the title race on the Louth men’s part.
Despite Europa League commitments in the coming week, Stephen Kenny made just one change to the side who faced Hajduk Split at Oriel Park on Thursday night. Kurtis Byrne replaced John Mountney in attack, while new signing Donal McDermott was made to wait once more for a first start.
Against an Athlone Town team who have managed just one point away from Lisseywollen all season, perhaps it’s no surprise this was a regulation win for the league leaders.
That said, Dundalk will have taken nothing for granted after needing a last-gasp Richie Towell penalty to beat Athlone, then under the management of Mick Cooke, back in April.
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Byrne was involved early on, as Dundalk looked to give the 1,597 attendance something to shout about. First, he had a shot cleared off the line before seeing a shot saved brilliantly by former Dundalk stopper Ryan Coulter, debuting for Athlone.
The opening goal arrived on 22 minutes. Incisive stuff from Darren Meenan and Patrick Hoban played in Byrne inside the area. His low effort was met by a strong hand from Coulter, but Hoban had followed up and tapped in from close range for his 12th of the season.
Whether it was by design or not, Keith Long’s side then sat deep allowing Dundalk space and time to get on the ball and set the rhythm. Set it they did and 10 minutes after the opener, it was 2-0.
Richie Towell won a free-kick and picked himself up to float a ball into the box, which Brian Gartland rose highest to meet. His unopposed header flew past Coulter to double the home side’s lead.
That’s seven for the season in all competitions for the centre back now, with only Towell, Hoban and David McMillan contributing more goals than the Dubliner. He could have added another shortly before the break when again he met a free-kick, this time from Darren Meenan, but it was ruled out for offside by referee Derek Tomney.
In the second half, the bottom club produced a little more going forward. James O’Brien shrugged off the attentions of Andy Boyle, but put his effort over the bar with just Peter Cherrie to beat before John Mulroy wriggled free and shot over.
Without Philly Gorman, whose goals make up over a third of Athlone’s league total this year, scoring against Dundalk’s backline was always going to be difficult. Stephen Kenny will be pleased that with Dundalk perhaps on the verge of European elimination after four games and two continental trips, their league title challenge remains as strong as ever.
DUNDALK: Peter Cherrie, Sean Gannon, Andy Boyle, Brian Gartland, Dane Massey, Chris Shields, Richie Towell, Daryl Horgan (Mark Griffin, 88), Kurtis Byrne (Ruaidhri Higgins, 78), Dareen Meenan (Donal McDermott, 73), Patrick Hoban.
Substitutes: Gabriel Sava, Simon Kelly, Mark Rossiter, Ruaidhri Higgins, John Mountney, Donal McDermott, Mark Griffin.
ATHLONE TOWN: Ryan Coluter, Stephen Quigley (Thomas Mulroney, 80), Kealan Dillon, Mark Hughes, Sean Brennan (Dean Ebbe 71), Neil Harney, Barry Clancy, James O’Brien, Declan Brennan, John Mulroy (Ian Sweeney, 71), Derek Doyle.
Substitutes: Alan Byrne, Ian Sweeney, Stephen Dunne, Dean Ebbe, Thomas Mulroney, Dean Mahon, Jason Marks.
Dundalk return to top as Athlone suffer 15th league defeat
Dundalk 2 Athlone Town 0
DUNDALK RETURNED TO the top of the SSE Airtricity League courtesy of a 2-0 win over basement club Athlone Town tonight, with goals from Patrick Hoban and Brian Gartland ensuring there was no let-up in the title race on the Louth men’s part.
Despite Europa League commitments in the coming week, Stephen Kenny made just one change to the side who faced Hajduk Split at Oriel Park on Thursday night. Kurtis Byrne replaced John Mountney in attack, while new signing Donal McDermott was made to wait once more for a first start.
Against an Athlone Town team who have managed just one point away from Lisseywollen all season, perhaps it’s no surprise this was a regulation win for the league leaders.
That said, Dundalk will have taken nothing for granted after needing a last-gasp Richie Towell penalty to beat Athlone, then under the management of Mick Cooke, back in April.
Byrne was involved early on, as Dundalk looked to give the 1,597 attendance something to shout about. First, he had a shot cleared off the line before seeing a shot saved brilliantly by former Dundalk stopper Ryan Coulter, debuting for Athlone.
The opening goal arrived on 22 minutes. Incisive stuff from Darren Meenan and Patrick Hoban played in Byrne inside the area. His low effort was met by a strong hand from Coulter, but Hoban had followed up and tapped in from close range for his 12th of the season.
Whether it was by design or not, Keith Long’s side then sat deep allowing Dundalk space and time to get on the ball and set the rhythm. Set it they did and 10 minutes after the opener, it was 2-0.
Richie Towell won a free-kick and picked himself up to float a ball into the box, which Brian Gartland rose highest to meet. His unopposed header flew past Coulter to double the home side’s lead.
That’s seven for the season in all competitions for the centre back now, with only Towell, Hoban and David McMillan contributing more goals than the Dubliner. He could have added another shortly before the break when again he met a free-kick, this time from Darren Meenan, but it was ruled out for offside by referee Derek Tomney.
In the second half, the bottom club produced a little more going forward. James O’Brien shrugged off the attentions of Andy Boyle, but put his effort over the bar with just Peter Cherrie to beat before John Mulroy wriggled free and shot over.
Without Philly Gorman, whose goals make up over a third of Athlone’s league total this year, scoring against Dundalk’s backline was always going to be difficult. Stephen Kenny will be pleased that with Dundalk perhaps on the verge of European elimination after four games and two continental trips, their league title challenge remains as strong as ever.
DUNDALK: Peter Cherrie, Sean Gannon, Andy Boyle, Brian Gartland, Dane Massey, Chris Shields, Richie Towell, Daryl Horgan (Mark Griffin, 88), Kurtis Byrne (Ruaidhri Higgins, 78), Dareen Meenan (Donal McDermott, 73), Patrick Hoban.
Substitutes: Gabriel Sava, Simon Kelly, Mark Rossiter, Ruaidhri Higgins, John Mountney, Donal McDermott, Mark Griffin.
ATHLONE TOWN: Ryan Coluter, Stephen Quigley (Thomas Mulroney, 80), Kealan Dillon, Mark Hughes, Sean Brennan (Dean Ebbe 71), Neil Harney, Barry Clancy, James O’Brien, Declan Brennan, John Mulroy (Ian Sweeney, 71), Derek Doyle.
Substitutes: Alan Byrne, Ian Sweeney, Stephen Dunne, Dean Ebbe, Thomas Mulroney, Dean Mahon, Jason Marks.
REFEREE: Derek Tomney
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Brian Gartland All-Ireland Senior HC SSE Airtricity League Premier Division World Cup 2014 LOI Patrick Hoban Athlone Town Dundalk title race