St. Patrick’s Athletic 0-2 Athlone Town
Goals from Philip Gorman and Kealan Dillon saw Athlone Town keep their hopes of Premier Division survival alive tonight when they beat St Patrick’s Athletic in Inchicore.
However, with relegation rivals UCD also winning in their clash with Derry City, Keith Long’s men remain bottom by a point with just one game remaining.
In what was a scrappy opening half in Richmond Park, both teams will feel they should have scored, but neither possessed the finesse that was required on a slippery pitch.
Conan Byrne almost teed up Christy Fagan with just two minutes on the clock, but the winger’s tame pass was gathered by Ryan Coulter.
Athlone struggled to find any rhythm early on, and Captain Alan Byrne was at full stretch to block Fagan’s shot from the left side.
The visitors did eventually string some nice passes together, and Sean Brennan found Philip Gorman lurking at the back post where he forced Brendan Clarke into his first save of the night with a looping header.
With their Premier Division survival on the line they went on to have some decent possession, and Kevin Knight and Eric Foley threatened.
Foley, in particular, was dangerous from set-plays, and Clarke saved twice from his free-kicks before Killian Brennan shot over for the Saints before the break.
The damp conditions continued to make the game a scrappy affair until the hour mark when Athlone grabbed the win with both hands.
A sweeping move from the halfway line involving Kealan Dillon, Sean Brennan, Foley and Gorman resulted in the latter smashing a swerving shot to the top corner from all of 25-yards. That inspiring strike sent the visiting supporters into raptures and they were jumping for joy six minutes later when Brennan’s quick free-kick to Dillon allowed him to shoot past Clarke at the near post.
ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: Clarke, O’Brien (Oman 61), Foran, Bolger, Byrne, Fagan, Brennan (Feely 73), Fitzgerlad, Chambers, Browne, McGrath (Durrad 83). Substitutes: Oman, Bermingham, Forrester, Hoare, Feely, Durrad, Jennings.
ATHLONE TOWN: Coulter, Hayes, Prendergast, Byrne, Dillon, Gorman (Rusk 75), Brennan (Clancy 85), O’Brien, Foley, Doyle (Sweeney 90+4), Knight. Substitutes: Skinner, Collins, Clancy, Rusk, Mulroney, Dunne, Sweeney.
