League Report: Shelbourne 1 - 3 Athlone Town

Shelbourne’s unbeaten start to the season ended at Tolka Park on Friday night as Athlone Town’s continued. An an early goal from Garbhan Coughlan and a pair of free kicks from Eric Foley and Daniel Purdy punished the Reds, who never really had a foothold in the game.

The first action of the game came in the fifth minute, a defensive mishap from Daire Doyle gave the ball to Garbhan Coughlan on the right wing but Greg Murray easily dealt with the Athlone striker’s weak cross.

Moments later, a through ball from Craig Walsh to Philip Hughes presented danger but Shane Cusack made it to the ball before the Shelbourne striker. On 14 minutes, Shels played one too many passes around their own area and Doyle once again slipped up, but Philip Gorman failed to convert a one-on-one opportunity against Murray.

Shelbourne thought they were in on goal when a Hughes flick-on put Alan O’Sullivan through against Cusack, but the assistant referee had raised his flag on the far side.

Having been the better of the two sides to this point, Athlone’s first goal came after 20 minutes when a poor touch from Jake Donnelly exposed the Shels rearguard and Garbhan Coughlan was quick to pounce and put the ball past Murray.

Athlone doubled their lead just two minutes later. Donnelly conceded a free-kick about 35 yards out and Foley’s effort sailed straight over the head of Murray, who was left standing watching the ball go into the net.

Reds boss Kevin Doherty put an early end to Donnelly’s misery, replacing him with striker Mark Sandford after only 25 minutes as the Reds reverted to a traditional 4-4-2 formation. A sublime touch from Hughes after an aimless clearance gave the ball to Sandford, who in turn put O’Sullivan one-on-one with the goalkeeper but the Shels winger hit the ball straight at Cusack.

There were shouts for a red card after a horrendous challenge on Colm Crowe by Gorman but Simon Rogers only produced a yellow card after much hesitation.

On 36 minutes, a Philip Hand free-kick caused even more concern for Shelbourne as his cross met the head of Derek Doyle, but the Town winger could only find the hands of Murray. Some might consider Crowe to have been lucky not to see red, as he mowed down Garbhan Coughlan who just had the keeper to beat, albeit at the halfway line.

Just seconds later, referee Rogers ruled out a handball shout from the vociferous inhabitants of the Richmond Road stand as the ball seemed to strike Stephen Dunne on the forearm outside the Athlone penalty area.

After a quiet start to the second half, a long ball from Ryan Robinson presented substitute Gareth Coughlan with an opportunity on the 50-minute mark, but the Shels winger was beaten to the ball by an onrushing Cusack.

Three minutes later, Athlone could have extended their lead even further after some trickery by Marco Chindea who sliced open the Reds’ defence but Murray again recovered from some questionable defending to keep the deficit at just two.

Shelbourne had their first convincing opportunity of the game after 57 minutes. Sandford found himself in front of goal after a Hughes pass split the defence and the former Shamrock Rovers prospect forced a save from Cusack, but Shels failed to capitalise from the corner kick.

Athlone had another chance to kill off the game just after the hour mark. What initially looked to be a speculative effort from Garbhan Coughlan forced a reaction from Murray but it was always rising and sailed over the bar.

Adam O’Connor found himself in space on the wing before being taken down from behind by Derek Doyle, who received nothing more than a talking to from the referee. Gareth Coughlan sent the free kick low and hard across the box but it didn’t find the feet of any Redsmen and rolled out for a throw.

Four minutes from time Shelbourne finally found a goal. A driven pass into the box from Ryan Robinson found the feet of Sandford, whose shot was blocked. Shelbourne recycled possession and won a free kick at the edge of the box. Gareth Coughlan opted for power over placement and didn’t give Cusack a chance in the Drumcondra End goal.

The Midlanders put the final nail in their opponents’ coffin in the third of four minutes additional time. Daniel Purdy found the top right-hand corner with a free kick after Robinson was deemed to have committed a foul on the edge of the box.

In truth, the game was defined by Shelbourne’s poor play as opposed to Athlone’s quality. Kevin Doherty’s men made some crucial defensive errors and were punished by Athlone’s clinical attacking players.

Finn Harps’ 1-0 win against Cobh Ramblers means the Town still aren’t the sole occupants of top spot but it does mean Shels fall three points behind the league leaders, with a trip to Waterford to look forward to on Good Friday.

Shelbourne: Greg Murray; Adam O’Connor, Ryan Robinson, Daire Doyle (c), Evan Osam; Jake Donnelly (Mark Sandford 25), Colm Crowe (Gareth Coughlan 45); Alan O’Sullivan (Jordan Keegan 45), Craig Walsh, Alan Kehoe; Philip Hughes.
Subs not used: David Ryan, Conor Earley, Manuel Rodriguez, Darragh Gannon.

Booked: Kehoe (12), Crowe (43), Walsh (77), Daire Doyle (80), Robinson (90 + 2).

Athlone Town: Shane Cusack; Stephen Quigley (c) (Robbie Gaul 60), Stephen Dunne, Aidan Collins, Philip Hand; Marco Chindea (Daniel Purdy 62), Eric Foley, Gavin Boyne, Derek Doyle; Philip Gorman (Gary Burke 83), Garbhan Coughlan.
Subs not used: Ryan Doolin, Garreth Brady, Sam O’Connor, Patrick Dunican (gk).

Booked: Gorman (31), Derek Doyle (81), Collins (86), Foley (88).

Referee: Simon Rogers

Attendance: 718

ExtraTime.ie Man of the Match: Garbhan Coughlan (Athlone Town)