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Date Time League Season
14 April 2023 7:45 pm LOI Men's First Division 2023

Match Report

Dolia Delights Lissywollen Faithful To Land Three Points

Valerii Dolia’s second half free kick and a late Adam Lennon strike, was the difference as Athlone picked up a big three points in their pursuit of the play-off places, as they overcame Cobh Ramblers in Lissywollen.

Despite the result the sides remain in the same positions in the league standings, Athlone in fifth with Cobh remaining fourth, a fourth win of the year for the Town so far putting them in the race for promotion in these early stages.

A game of few chances, but Athlone looked a solid cohesive unit, looking good in possession it was their danger man, the Ukrainian Dolia was sensational, he was everywhere they needed him tonight and is a quality addition to their side, but did end up having to hobble off with injury late on.

The first main chance of the tie came from the hosts after 7 minutes, Adam Lennon swinging a dangerous cross into the Cobh area, Frantz Pierrot headed toward goal but into the gloves of Lee Steacy, Pierrot had caused trouble early with a half chance.

Cobh’s talisman Jack Doherty was first to test the Athlone backline, as he got a shot at goal but Enda Minogue got down quick to smother the ball. Minutes later Isaie Louis had a shot that just went over the Cobh goal.

Charlie Lyons had a whisker of a chance for Cobh to get the breakthrough before the quarter of an hour mark, he was quickest to gather a ball sent back into the Town box, but he only got a light touch and out came Mingoue to gather the ball.

Minogue was kept busy, Issa Kargbo getting a ball into the box, Minogue getting a touch, Darragh O’Sullivan Connell just could not get the ball from under his feet, it fell to Wilson Waweru, but smart defending by the hosts saw the ball out for a corner.

Athlone were having chances, Patrick Hickey looking to break the deadlock, while Valerii Dolia was causing trouble in the midfield, as he was looking to get a chance but his efforts at goal were blocked down well by the Cobh backline.

A first half of very few chances saw the ball almost end up in the net on a couple occasions, Athlone slightly on top, looking sharp in possession but Steacy was rarely troubled, while Minogue at the other end too had to be alert but again was hardly breaking a sweat.

With the opening half being a bit lacklustre, five minutes into the second half, Pierrot looked to create a chance but was brought down by Luke Desmond, the Cobh man booked, then came the chat over who would take the resulting free kick outside the area in a great position, Dolia had been an issue all evening, the Ukrainian struck a sensational right footed effort over the wall that landed in the bottom left corner past the fully stretched Lee Steacy.

Athlone were playing much better as the second half wore on, that goal gave them confidence and on the hour mark, they almost doubled their lead, Haji Abdikadir and Adam Lennon both having efforts but neither nestled into the back of the Cobh net.

Cobh’s first major chance of the second half came after 63 minutes, a snap shot at goal by Waweru, dealt with by Mingoue but an effort at goal that still showed that the visitors were still in the tie, they could be dangerous from anywhere and also the lead was not a massive one if Athlone took the foot off the gas a little.

Chances came for both as the half wore on, Lennon had a gift of a chance to seal it late in the half but just could not get the shot underway, while at the other end, Athlone were throwing bodies everywhere to keep Cobh out.

But with minutes left Athlone had been causing damage to Cobh, an under hit back pass saw Pierrot stride in to round Steacy, he crossed across the six yard box for Adam Lennon to tap home.

Athlone Town

1Enda Minogue Goalkeeper
2German Fuentes Rodriguez Defender
3Jack Kavanagh Midfielder
4Noah van Geenen Defender
6Patrick Hickey Defender
7Adam Lennon 25 Midfielder 89'
66'
8Aaron Connolly Midfielder
9Frantz Pierrot 17 Forward
10Valerii Dolia 12 Forward 51'
34'
15Haji Abdikadir Midfielder
23Isaie Louis 18 Forward
30Vladislav Velikin Goalkeeper
5Charles Mutawe Midfielder
12Blake Ryan 10 Defender
17Matthew McCarrick 9 Forward
18Oisin Duffy 23 Midfielder
19Aaron McBride Defender
22Nazar Zubkov Defender
25Matthew Leal 7 Defender
27Matthew Baker Defender

Cobh Ramblers

1Lee Steacy Goalkeeper
5Breandan Frahill 9 Defender
6Charlie Lyons Defender 90+1'
7Wilson Waweru Forward
8Pierce Phillips 4 Midfielder
10Jack Doherty Midfielder 43'
11Conor Drinan 34 Defender
12Darragh O’Sullivan Connell Defender 22'
16Luke Desmond 17 Midfielder 50'
18Callum Stringer Midfielder
24Issa Kargbo Defender 90'
30Darragh Burke Goalkeeper
4Justin Eguaibor 8 Defender
9Jake Hegarty 5 Forward
17Claudio Osorio 16 Midfielder
20Charlie O’Brien Defender
21Liam Kervick Midfielder
29Tiernan O’Brien Midfielder
33Adrien Thibaut Forward
34James O’Leary 11 Defender
  • 70'

    A yellow is shown to a member of the Cobh backroom staff as they look to make a sub

  • 66'

    Another yellow brandished by the ref to what looks lie, Patrick Hickey

  • 64'

    Change for Athlone as Oisin Duffy replaces Louis

  • 51'

    That man Dolia produces a beauty of a free kick to see Athlone lead 1-0, he curls a beauty over the wall past Steacy and its 1-0 for the Town

  • 50'

    Luke Desmond tackles Pierrot and awards Athlone a free in a dangerous position

  • 46'

    Half Time in Lissywollen and a fairly even half draws to a conclusion

  • 45'

    1 minute of added time to end the half

  • 44'

    Jack Doherty goes down in the box and is shown a yellow card for his troubles

  • 34'

    A silly foul from Valerii Dolia sees him in the book

  • 26'

    Athlone are having chances, Patrick Hickey looking to break the deadlock, while Valerii Dolia is causing trouble in the midfield, as he was looking to get a chance but his efforts at goal were blocked down well by the Cobh backline.

  • 21'

    Darragh O’Sullivan Connell stops a counter attack on half way and is booked as a result

  • 21'

    Minogue is kept busy, Issa Kargbo getting a ball into the box, Minogue getting a touch, Darragh O’Sullivan Connell just could not get the ball from under his feet, it fell to Wilson Waweru, but smart defending by the hosts saw the ball out for a corner.

  • 15'

    Charlie Lyons had a whisker of a chance for Cobh to get the breakthrough before the quarter of an hour mark, he was quickest to gather a ball sent back into the Town box, but he only got a light touch and out came Mingoue to gather the ball.

  • 8'

    Cobh’s talisman Jack Doherty was first to test the Athlone backline, as he got a shot at goal but Enda Minogue got down quick to smother the ball.

  • 7'

    Chance for Athlone, Adam Lennon swinging a dangerous cross into the Cobh area, Frantz Pierrot headed toward goal but into the gloves of Lee Steacy, Pierrot had caused trouble early with a half chance.

  • 1'

    Kick off in Lissywollen

Past Meetings

(Round 32)
1 - 3
LOI Men's First Division
St. Colman's Park

Cobh Ramblers 1-3 Athlone Town

(Round 19)
5 - 2
LOI Men's First Division
Athlone Town Stadium

Athlone Town v Cobh Ramblers

(Round 11)
3 - 2
LOI Men's First Division
St. Colman's Park

Cobh Ramblers v Athlone Town

(Round 5)
2 - 3
LOI Men's First Division
Athlone Town Stadium

Athlone Town v Cobh Ramblers

(Series 27)
1 - 2
LOI Men's First Division
Athlone Town Stadium

Athlone Town v Cobh Ramblers

(Series 18)
0 - 0
LOI Men's First Division
St. Colman's Park

Cobh Ramblers v Athlone Town

(Series 9)
2 - 1
LOI Men's First Division
Athlone Town Stadium

Athlone Town v Cobh Ramblers

(Series 12)
2 - 1
LOI Men's First Division
Athlone Town Stadium

Athlone Town v Cobh Ramblers

(Series 3)
3 - 2
LOI Men's First Division
St. Colman's Park

Cobh Ramblers v Athlone Town

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

Diarmuid Kearney is a freelance Sports Journalist based in Co Kerry. He has more than 5 years experience covering domestic and international soccer for different media organisations, while also working for local and national print and digital organisations covering GAA.