Drogheda United 1
Athlone Town 1
AN INJURY TIME leveller from Ian Sweeney earned Athlone Town a deserved point against Drogheda at United Park and narrowed the gap at the foot of the SSE Airtricity League to just three points.
Deep into injury time, it looked like Keith Long’s men would fail to take advantage of defeats in Dalymount and Belfield for Bray and UCD but winger Sweeney sprung up in the 93rd minute to cancel out Gavan Holohan’s first half opener.
Drogheda United’s resurgence looked set to continue apace but for Athlone Town, this point is a fourth draw in a row and means they go into the final six games still with real hope of an unlikely great escape.
For a side that have occupied dead last from day one, that would be some feat.
Since Damien Richardson’s arrival at the end of July, Drogheda have picked up 13 points from a possible 18. Despite a slow start here, when Holohan struck his six goal in eight outings, that run looked as if it would continue.
For a team looking to avenge a six goal drubbing in Lisseywoolen back in June, the home side were created virtually nothing early on. That was until Gary O’Neill released Cathal Brady down the right just before the half hour. The nippy winger’s cross was scuffed but reached Holohan in the area. His shot wasn’t all that well hit either but it squirmed past Ryan Coulter and a man on the line.
Moments later, Drogheda had an opportunity to double their lead but a golden chance after more good work from Brady fell to centre back Alan McNally and not a more accomplished finisher.
A former Drogheda favourite almost made an equaliser before the break. From a Drogheda attack, Sean Brennan raced past Peter McGlynn and squared inside. John Mulroy’s step over allowed Kealan Dillon to run through on goal but with just Micheal Schlingermann to beat, he chipped wide of the post.
In the second half, Athlone’s performance meant they merited nothing less than a point. While sub James O’Brien and Dillon only tested Schlingermann with tame efforts, it was them and not their in-form hosts who did most of the pressing.
Eventually, that pressure told. Alan Byrne, himself an ex-Drogs favourite was causing havoc in the area. The ball fell to Sweeney, who half-volleyed in to earn a creditable point.
DROGHEDA UNITED: Michael Schlingermann, Daire Doyle, Alan McNally, Paul Andrews, Shane Grimes, Mick Daly, Peter McGlynn (Stephen Maher 87), Gavan Holohan, Garreth Brady (Paul Crowley, 83), Cathal Brady, Gary O’Neill (Declan O’Brien, 66).
Substitutes: Dylan Connolly, Ciaran O’Connor, Adam Wixted, Roy Kierans.
ATHLONE TOWN: Ryan Coulter, Kevin Knight, Derek Prendergast, Alan Byrne, Kealan Dillon (Dean Ebbe, 83), Mark Hughes (Eric Foley, 66), Philip Gorman, Sean Brennan, Ian Sweeney, Brian Shorthall, John Mulroy (James O’Brien, 53).
Substitutes: Paul Skinner, Dylan Hayes, Thomas Mulroney, Derek Doyle.
REFEREE: Rob Harvey.