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Bohs manager Owen Heary (file pic). Ryan Byrne/INPHO
Report

Athlone earn much-needed point at home to Bohemians

Jake Hyland was dismissed late on for a second yellow card but the home side were unable to capitalise on this advantage.

Athlone 0-0 Bohemians

ATHLONE TOWN SHARED the spoils with Bohemians after a goalless draw in Lissywollen despite a one-sided affair. Jake Hyland was dismissed late on for a second yellow card but the home side were unable to capitalise on this advantage.

Both teams struggled to create many chances after the game got underway. Kevin Devaney came closest with a lofted shot from outside of the box, with his attempt skimming the crossbar to the relief of Ryan Coulter in the Athlone goal.

With the first half approaching its conclusion, the visitors upped the tempo leading to heavy pressure in the Athlone half. Dinny Corcoran had a couple of chances, first coming close from a well-placed Karl Moore free kick and then rounding Derek Prendergast but blasting his shot wide.

Bohemians entered the second half with the same bite about them evident in the first. The Town, meanwhile, struggled desperately to deal with the pressure, picking up several cautions as a result.

The Gypsies then went down to 10 men as the game entered its final third, as Hyland was penalised for a second yellow card after a heavy tackle on Alan Byrne.

The resulting card took the sting out of the away team’s attack as Athlone turned the game on its head in the final 15 minutes. They were, however, unable to capitalise, as both sides took home a point on a strange night of action in Lissywollen.

Athlone now lie two points off UCD, as this season’s relegation battle heats up.

Athlone Town: Ryan Coulter, Derek Prendergast, Alan Byrne (c), Kealan Dillon, Philip Gorman, Sean Brennan, Ian Sweeney, James O’Brien, Brian Shortall (Hayes 71m), Eric Foley, Kevin Knight

Bohemians: Dean Delany, Derek Pender, Jack Memery, Roberto Lopes, Dave Mulcahy (c), Aidan Price, Karl Moore, Dinny Corcoran (Byrne 71m), Paddy Kavanagh (Hyland 60m), Kevin Devaney, Craig Walsh (Buckley 25m)

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