1 v 2 
Athlone TownDetails
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 October 2022 | 7:45 pm | LOI Men's First Division | 2022 |
Match Report
Oluwa haunts Galway title hopes
Thomas Oluwa came back to haunt his former club Galway Utd and end their slim title chances. Oluwa’s 10th goal of the season decided this game at Eamon Deacy Park.
Oisin O’Reilly lost possession, Athlone broke, Killian Brouder lost the ball and Oluwa pounced to fire past Kearns.
The home side had made the perfect start to the game. Barely two minutes had elapsed when Stephen Walsh nicked the ball from Jarlath Jones and coolly fired to the net. Athlone were back on level terms in the 18th minute when Adam Lennon found the back of the net with a stunning strike.
Despite taking an early lead Galway created very little after Walsh’s goal. Ronan Manning hit a free that went wide in the 14th minute. Four minutes later Athlone drew level through Lennon.
Athlone keeper Vladislav Velikin brought off a superb save in the 33rd minute to deny David Hurley. As half-time approached Galway piled on the pressure. Killian Brouder’s header came off his team-mate David Tarmey who was on the line.
Manning’s free went wide in the 43rd minute. Max Hemmings cut inside and hit an excellent strike that just went wide in stoppage time.
Five minutes into the second half Hemmings brought a fine save out of Velikin. McCarthy’s curling effort went wide in the 55th minute as the home side pushed to restore the lead. As the game went on Galway manager John Caulfield made changes.
Sub Oisin O’Reilly saw his shot pushed away by Velikin in the 67th minute, the ball eventually fell to Walsh but his bicycle kick went over the bar. In the 74th minute McCarthy’s long range effort just went narrowly wide. Bastien Hery did very well in the 76th minute, he played the ball to O’Reilly the ball fell to Hurley but he blasted the ball over the bar when it was easier to keep it down.
Utd were made rue not taking their chances when in the 81st minute Oluwa put Athlone ahead. Galway now have a battle on with Waterford to finish second in the table.
Timeline
| 7. Stephen Walsh | 2' | |
| 18' | 34. Adam Lennon | |
| 26' | 15. Patrick Hickey | |
| Ronan Manning Bastien Hery | 58' | |
| David Tarmey Wilson Waweru | 58' | |
| Mikie Rowe Oisin O'Reilly | 58' | |
| 62' | Aaron McBride | |
| 2. Conor O'Keeffe | 64' | |
| 66' | Daniel Dobbin Jack Kavanagh | |
| 81' | 9. Thomas Oluwa | |
| Killian Brouder Rob Manley | 84' | |
| 21. Bastien Hery | 86' |
Past Meetings
|
(Round 26)
1 - 3LOI Men's First Division
Athlone Town Stadium Athlone Town 1-3 Galway United |
|
(Round 17)
3 - 0LOI Men's First Division
Eamonn Deacy Park Galway United v Athlone Town |
|
(Round 6)
1 - 2LOI Men's First Division
Athlone Town Stadium Athlone Town v Galway United |
|
(Series 20)
1 - 0LOI Men's First Division
Athlone Town Stadium Athlone Town v Galway United |
|
(Series 11)
2 - 1LOI Men's First Division
Eamonn Deacy Park Galway United v Athlone Town |
|
(Series 2)
3 - 1LOI Men's First Division
Athlone Town Stadium Athlone Town v Galway United |
|
(Series 10)
1 - 4LOI Men's First Division
Athlone Town Stadium Athlone Town v Galway United |
|
(Series 1)
2 - 2LOI Men's First Division
Eamonn Deacy Park Galway United v Athlone Town |
Ground
| Eamonn Deacy Park |
|---|
| Eamonn Deacy Park, Dyke Road, Terryland, Menlough, Galway City, County Galway, Connacht, H91 ET6N, Ireland |
Deniese O'Flaherty
Deniese is a freelance sports journalist/broadcaster. She has worked for several local and national media outlets. GAA and soccer are her great loves and she also follows rugby league and snooker. She's a big supporter of her local clubs St. Mary's GAA Granard and Longford Town. She also follows Celtic, Liverpool and Leeds Rhinos. She presented and produced a popular sports podcast last year where she interviewed Ray Houghton, Chris Kamara and John Hartson. Deniese is currently Head of Communications for Boccia Ireland
Wilson Waweru booked. Very harsh
Hery is booked
Killian Brouder goes off
Rob Manley is on
Oisin O\'Reilly lost possession, Athlone broke, Killian Brouder lost the ball and Oluwa pounced to fire past Kearns
Thomas Oluwa puts Athlone ahead
Van Geelan does very well to win the ball from Walsh
Great play from Hery, he plays the ball over to O'Reilly, ball falls to Hurley but he somehow blasts the ball over the bar. Good chance gone abegging
McCarthy's long range effort just narrowly wide
Conor Kearns quick off his line to clear the danger
Velikin pushes away Oisin O'Reilly's effort, it eventually falls to Walsh but he hits his bicycle kick over the bar
Daniel Dobbin goes off
Jack Kavanagh is on for Athlone
Nothing come from that corner
Athlone win a corner
Conor O'Keeffe is booked
Aaron McBride is booked for a foul on Waweru
Mikie Rowe is off
Oisin O'Reilly is on
David Tarmey makes way
Ronan Manning goes off
Bastien Hery is on
Ed McCarthy's curling effort just wide
Oluwa does very well and then releases the ball to Dobbin but it doesn't have enough power and Kearns saves
The home side have won a corner
Velikin with a save from Hemmings.
Cracking strike from Hemmings, so close
Manning's free goes wide
Brouder's header is cleared off the line
Corner for the home side
Galway haven't looked like restoring their lead. Poor enough from them
O'Keeffe with a cross but it sails over the bar
Great strike from Hurley but Velikin was equal to the shot. Fantastic save
Athlone clear the danger as Galway try to break
Hickey is booked
Athlone have been buoyed up by that goal
Walsh hoping to restore his side's lead but Velikin reacts well
Stunning strike from Lennon that Kearns could not save
Adam Lennon levels the game
Manning takes the free but his low effort goes wide
Ronan Manning skips past a number of challenges and wins a free
Athlone break but O'Keeffe puts in a fine challenge to win the ball for Galway
Walsh fouled, free to Galway
Walsh nicked the ball from Jones and coolly slotted home
Stephen Walsh puts Galway ahead.
Free from Aaron Connolly floated into the box but Hickey couldn't get a connection on it
Underway here
Teams are now out on the pitch
Galway have defeated Athlone in their previous three meetings this season. In their last game it was 1-1 entering stoppage time but Galway grabbed two late goals to win the game
Athlone lie 8th in the table. In their previous game they drew 2-2 with their local rivals Longford Town.
Galway are hoping to keep pressure on leaders Cork City. With just 3 games left, Galway are six points behind the Leesiders.
Welcome to Final Whistle's coverage of Galway Utd and Athlone Town