2 v 1 
Wexford YthsVideo
Details
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 October 2022 | 4:50 pm | LOI Women's Premier Division | 2022 |
Match Report
Athlone blow title race wide open as late Keenan header downs Wexford
Athlone Town further shook up the top of the WNL table with a 2-1 win over Wexford Youths in Lissywollen this evening.
Wexford took the lead just eight minutes in after a suspicious penalty call from the ref. A corner came in from the left-hand side and Kylie Murphy threw herself in an attempt to make contact with it.
Roisin Molloy at the back stick made the slightest contact with Murphy as she was going down anyway and the ref gave a penalty, much to the crowd, Molloy’s and her teammates bemusement. Aoibhean Clancy, who sent the initial corner in, stepped up and placed it in, despite Niamh Coombes guessing the right way.
Athlone pushed on however and got their reward in the 21st minute. A Molloy cross into the box took a touch and sat up perfectly for Kellie Brennan, who fired in at point blank range to make it 1-1.
The hosts had a few chances before the half but couldn’t convert. Three minutes after the goal Gillian Keenan and Brennan displayed some good link-up play, but Maeve Williams denied them from close in.
Madison Gibson, last week's hero, had two chances at the back post. One was taken onto her right and shanked, whilst the other bounced as she hit it. Both were well off the mark.
Athlone could’ve had a goal less than five minutes after the restart. Molloy received the ball from a throw-in and drilled it into the mixer for Gibson, but Youths converged and put the ball out.
They could’ve had a penalty right before the hour mark when Molloy was clipped in the box. The Sligo native didn’t go down, but appealed nonetheless. Another interesting one for the ref to explain.
In the 82nd minute, Kayleigh Shine sent in a corner from the left. Keenan met it in the box and looped it over Williams. Athlone would withstand Wexford pressure from here on out.
With a Shels win earlier and a Peas win a few minutes after full time, there’s now four teams in a three-point gap. The last few weeks of the season should be very interesting. Wexford are still in pole position, but it feels like a tossup.
Timeline
| 8' | 17. Aoibheann Clancy | |
| 2. Kellie Brennan | 21' | |
| 44' | 6. Kylie Murphy | |
| Kate Slevin Scarlett Herron | 64' | |
| 69' | Freya de Mange Aine Walsh | |
| 72' | 8. Edel Kennedy | |
| Kellie Brennan Emily Corbet | 78' | |
| 7. Gillian Keenan | 82' | |
| Maddison Gibson Emma McGrath | 90' |
Past Meetings
|
(Semi Final)
3 - 0FAI Women's Cup
Athlone Town Stadium Athlone Town v Wexford Youths |
|
(Round 12)
2 - 1LOI Women's Premier Division
Ferrycarrig Park Wexford Youths v Athlone Town |
|
(Round 1)
1 - 2LOI Women's Premier Division
Athlone Town Stadium Athlone Town v Wexford Youths |
|
(Series 22)
7 - 1LOI Women's Premier Division
Ferrycarrig Park Wexford Youths v Athlone Town |
|
(Quarter Final)
3 - 1FAI Women's Cup
Ferrycarrig Park Wexford Youths v Athlone Town |
|
(Series 13)
1 - 3LOI Women's Premier Division
Athlone Town Stadium Athlone Town v Wexford Youths |
|
(Series 4)
1 - 0LOI Women's Premier Division
Ferrycarrig Park Wexford Youths v Athlone Town |
|
(Series 2)
0 - 1LOI Women's Premier Division
Athlone Town Stadium Athlone Town v Wexford Youths |
Ground
| Athlone Town Stadium |
|---|
| Athlone Town Stadium, Old Rail Trail, Garrycastle, Athlone East Rural Electoral Division, The Municipal District of Athlone — Moate, County Westmeath, Leinster, N37 N1F2, Ireland |
Full time! Big win for Athlone.
Wexford have a late free that they'll send in. Last chance saloon.
Three minutes added on.
Bit of a goalmouth scramble, but Coombes jumps down on it.
Goal! Athlone take the lead after a Shine corner is headed in by Gillian Keenan!
Gibson drives forward and tries one on her left, but the effort is just wide.
Athlone have a penalty shout waved away.
Kennedy chests it down in the box and looks to get a shot off, but Coombes is off her line and collects it well.
Molloy was clipped in the box but nothing given. Ref has made some questionable decisions.
Rossiter cuts inside and lets fly on her left, but it's straight at Coombes.
Molloy gets the ball from a throw in and drills it into the mixer. A goalmouth scramble ensues, but Wexford put it behind for a corner.
Back underway.
Half time.
Another cross finds Gibson at the back post, but it bounces as she hits it and sends it well over.
Cross finds Gibson at the back post. She takes it onto her right, but shanks it wide.
Keenan and Brennan link up well, but Williams pulls off a save at close range.
Goal! Athlone strike back after a Molloy cross falls to Brennan and she slams it in first time!
So it appears Molloy pushed someone in the box. Might be a bit harsh.
Goal! Clancy slams it in! Athlone seem puzzled about the decision.
Penalty! Roisin Molloy is booked for a handball and Wexford have a peno!
Clancy sends a free into the mixer and it's behind for a corner.
We're off.
Vera Pauw is also in attendance here.
Teams onto pitch, kick-off is nigh.
Teams are in.
Athlone on the other hand are looking to ride off the highs of that cup win. A win reduces the gap between today's two sides to three points, whilst Shels would take top spot for a week at least.
With Shels win over Cork earlier today, Wexford need a win to go back top. That may prove difficult after their 3-0 loss here last week in the cup semi final.
Hello and welcome to finalwhistle.ie for live coverage of today's WNL encounter between Athlone Town and Wexford Youths. I'm Seán Comber and I'll be updating you throughout.