5 v 1 
Athlone TownVideo
Details
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 July 2022 | 7:45 pm | FAI Cup | 2022 |
Match Report
Drogheda made light work of Athlone in FAI Cup
Drogheda United cruised to a 5-0 victory over Athlone Town at Head in the Game Park, advancing past the First Round of the FAI Cup.
Adam Foley’s flicked header in the sixth minute set the tone for Drogheda’s domination before Vladislav Velikin gifted Dean Williams a tap-in on 40 minutes. Right before the break Darragh Markey added with a shot from just inside the area.
A second Velikin howler meant for a second Williams tap-in for the fourth, while Ryan Brennan added the fifth with a header 67 minutes in.
A professional cup performance from the Drogs, but equally one they looked to really enjoy as they dispatched of Gordon Brett’s side. A strong line-up from Kevin Doherty that fired on all cylinders meant the travelling team were never in contention.
It took just six minutes for the deadlock to be broken, as Gary Deegan’s cross met Foley who smartly flicked a header over Velikin and into the net. Drogheda began to knock the ball around and the feeling of enjoyment of being in that unusual situation was apparent in their body language as they took risks and shot from range.
Athlone had nothing to offer other than hopeful runs from Shane Barnes down the channels, however defensively, they kept the hosts out well until their second on 40 minutes. That is why the nature of this goal meant added frustration for the Westmeath side, as Velikin gifted Williams a spot on the scoresheet.
In a carbon copy of the Dion Dublin Shay Given moment from 1997, Williams snuck from behind Velikin to poach the ball and tap home. Markey made it a foregone conclusion right before the interval, taking in a fizzed ball from Andy Quinn, dropping the shoulder, and burying home for 3-0.
The second-half was a similar story and with 55 minutes on the clock Velikin came to the fore again, for all the wrong reasons. His failed clearance hit Markey who found Williams, and Williams once again found the empty net at his mercy in making it 4-0.
Substitute Brennan chipped in with his usual contribution, stooping low to head home a brilliant Dayle Rooney cross with 67 minutes played. Athlone were out of sorts while Chris Lyon’s and Markey threatened a sixth with audacious attempts.
Matthew McCarrick’s introduction was the source of a bright spark for The Town, and it would also be the source of their consolation goal in the 84th minute. McCabe unnecessarily left his goal and McCarrick was able to roll the ball home from way out to leave things at 5-1.
Timeline
| 11. Adam Foley | 6' | |
| 35' | 34. Adam Lennon | |
| 37' | 8. Aaron Connolly | |
| 22. Dean Williams | 41' | |
| 7. Darragh Markey | 45' | |
| Keith Cowan Dane Massey | 45' | |
| Gary Deegan Ryan Brennan | 45' | |
| 45' | Aaron Connolly Jarlath Jones | |
| 22. Dean Williams | 55' | |
| Dean Williams Chris Lyons | 56' | |
| Adam Foley Dylan Grimes | 56' | |
| George Poynton Darragh Noone | 62' | |
| 19. Ryan Brennan | 67' | |
| 70' | Adam Lennon Matthew McCarrick | |
| 76' | Matthew McCarrick | |
| 80' | Thomas Oluwa Valerii Dolia | |
| 84' | Matthew McCarrick | |
| 87' | Aaron McBride Andy Spain | |
| 87' | Shane Barnes Precious Omochere |
Past Meetings
|
(Series 15)
0 - 2LOI Men's First Division
Weavers Park Drogheda United v Athlone Town |
|
(Series 6)
3 - 3LOI Men's First Division
Athlone Town Stadium Athlone Town v Drogheda United |
1 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
Weavers Park Drogheda United FC v Athlone Town AFC |
6LOI Men's Premier Division
Athlone Town Stadium Athlone Town AFC v Drogheda United FC |
3 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Weavers Park Drogheda United FC v Athlone Town AFC |
Ground
| Weavers Park |
|---|
| United Park, Cross Lane, Fair Gate, The Borough District of Drogheda, County Louth, Leinster, A92DKR0, Ireland |
Con Sheehan
21 year old sports journalist from Drogheda. Student at Dublin City University. Drogheda United Correspondent for FinalWhistle.ie
Full-Time here. Drogheda advance to the last 16. Drogheda 5-1 Athlone
Three added here
Two more changes from Athlone as Precious Omochere and Andy Spain replace Shane Barnes and Ryan McBride
Consolation for The Town as McCarrick taps into an empty net with McCabe caught in no mans land
Valerii Dolla on for Thomas Oluwa for the last 10 for the Midlanders
Matthew McCarrick booked
Markey with an audacious curling effort that unfortunately cracks the cross-bar
A fifth for the home team as Rooney's cross picks out Ryan Brennan. Brennan gets down low to head home
Lyons with a stinging volley that Velikin bats away
Darragh Noone comes on for his debut replacing George Poynton
Dylan Grimes with a near miss having just replaced Foley
Drogheda enjoying it now and somehow don't have a fifth after sub Chris Lyons hit the post before Rooney's dink was cleared off the line
A fourth for the Drogs and yet again Velikin is at fault. He clears the ball straight at Markey who eventually scurries the ball to William's for his second tap-in of the evening
Great effort from Rooney but Velikin restores some of his reputation with a quality save
For Gordon Brett's men, Aaron Connolly is replaced by Jarlath Jones
Half-time changes for Drogheda see Ryan Brennan and Dane Massey replace Cowan and Deegan
Back underway in this FAI Cup First Round tie
Half-time at Head in the Game Park. Drogheda United 3-0 Athlone Town
Drogheda get a third before the break to really deflate their opponents. A fizzed ball from Andrew Quinn found Markey who dropped the shoulder and buried a shot past Velikin
Athlone with a great chance down the other end but Colin McCabe saved well to prevent a route back into the tie
A bizarre second at the hands of Dean Williams, who pounced from behind Velikin as he prepared to kick long and tapped the ball into the open net
Rooney drives through the middle and has a go from range but its harmlessly wide
Aaron Connolly booked also for the away team
Adam Lennon carded for a late challenge
Athlone really having a hard time offering anything so far and the Drogs are just knocking it around at the minute. Shane Barnes has tried to make runs down the channels but he's been marshalled by Keith Cowan in defence
Remains one nil here. The Drogs will be eager to get that cushion goal but the visitors keeping them out for now
Darragh Markey drifting around the pitch and proving a nuisance for The Town defenders already
Drogheda playing with a high intensity and it already looks like a matter of how many they will get with Darragh Nugent and Evan Weir with further chances
Dayle Rooney goes close for the second but drags his effort tamely wide
Curse of the commentator there as Drogheda break the deadlock straight away. A cross comes in from the left and Adam Foley brilliantly flicks it over Vladislav Velikin's head for 1-0
Home team just probing so far as expected but no clear cut chances yet
We're off here in Louth
Drogheda Team News: A strong line-up put forward by Kevin Doherty which sees the usual suspects starting. The bench is decorated with debutants like Darragh Noone, former Longford goalkeeper Lee Steacy and Stevan Stanic-Floody who's moved over from Australia
Drogheda will of course head into the game as favourites against the struggling First Division side. However Athlone will have to find belief in the FAI Cup's unpredictability and their positive recent history with the Drogs
Con Sheehan here reporting as Drogheda United host Athlone Town in the First Round of the FAI Cup. Kick-off is 7:45pm at Head in the Game Park