4 v 1 
Finn HarpsVideo
Details
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 August 2023 | 7:45 pm | LOI Men's First Division | 2023 |
Match Report
Athlone Prevail In High Scoring Finn Harps Encounter
Athlone Town cruised to their first home win in four with a 4-1 win over Finn Harps in Lissywollen this evening.
Noah Van Geenan opened proceedings. Scott Wara put it into his own net before Billy Banda got Harps back into it. A Valeri Dolia brace saw Athlone build a lead they wouldn’t cease
Athlone got off to an absolutely ideal start. Just six minutes in a corner from the right resulted in Van Geenan meeting it and Hickey picking up the loose ball. The American took his time, played it back to Van Geenan who calmly finished for the opener.
It then got hectic between the 20th and 30th minute. Scott Wara gave Athlone their second when he attempted to deal with a Campion Hinds cross from the right and just got his execution all wrong.
The Athlone celebrations were short lived however as Harps had a lifeline two minutes later. Jamie Watson swung in an absolutely superb cross from the right, getting a perfect dip on it. Billy Banda rose highest at the back post, towering above his marker and firing it into the Athlone net, a wonderful goal for Harps.
Five minutes later Athlone showed their Uno card. Michael Peprah took a quick throw from left back and found Pierrot down the line who drew the attention of multiple Harps defenders. This opened up room for Dolia who Pierrot played through and set one-on-one with Antonio Tuta. Dolia kept his calm and lofted it over the Harps goalkeeper to make it 3-1.
It got even better for Dolia and Athlone in the 38th minute. He found himself on the end of a great passing move on the right-hand side and cut onto his left foot. From well outside the box, he found the top corner, an absolutely wonderful goal to make this 4-1 and essentially seal it.
The second half was a very quiet affair on the chances front. Athlone were more than happy with the order of things and Harps looked spent from the first half. The talking points would be red cards handed out to each side.
Michael Peprah got his marching orders for the home side in the 79th minute. The new man for Athlone had played a solid game but two sloppy tackles in quick succession around this time saw two yellows given to him, sending the home side down to ten.
Daniel Stokoe levelled the playing field with a red in the 88th minute. A 50/50 between himself and German Fuentes Rodriguez ended with Stokoe putting in a horror tackle, catching Rodriguez high. The red wasn’t protested whatsoever.
Athlone will be happy with the end result. It breaks a bad run of form at home and gives them some breathing room in the table.
Timeline
| 4. Noah van Geenen | 6' | |
| Scott Wara | 22' | |
| 24' | BJ Banda | |
| 10. Valerii Dolia | 29' | |
| 35' | Matty Makinson Caoimhin Porter | |
| 10. Valerii Dolia | 38' | |
| 46' | Patrick Ferry Sean O'Donnell | |
| 48' | 20. Sean O'Donnell | |
| 60' | Max Hutchison Dan Stokoe | |
| 60' | BJ Banda Aaron McLaughlin | |
| 5. Daniel McKenna | 61' | |
| Frantz Pierrot Dylan Gavin | 63' | |
| Valerii Dolia Néhémie Lamtoukou | 63' | |
| 66' | 7. Ryan Flood | |
| 28. Michael Peprah | 76' | |
| 78' | Tony McNamee Noe Baba | |
| 28. Michael Peprah | 79' | |
| Jamar Campion-Hinds Daniel Orrego | 86' | |
| 89' | Dan Stokoe | |
| Daniel McKenna Josh McGlone | 92' | |
| Oisin Duffy Matthew Baker | 92' |
Past Meetings
|
(Round 12)
1 - 4LOI Men's First Division
Finn Park Finn Harps FC 1-4 Athlone Town AFC |
|
(Round 2)
3 - 1LOI Men's First Division
Athlone Town Stadium Athlone Town AFC 3-1 Finn Harps FC |
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.
Four minutes added on.
Yikes. Dan Stokoe has absolutely high footed Fuentes Rodriguez. A horror tackle and the red deservedly follows.
Peprah sees red for Athlone. Two poor challenges in as many minutes.
One of the Harps players goes down in the box before the corner was whipped in. Feels like things might boil over here.
Harps almost produce a calamitous own goal. Corner Athlone.
Wara comes across to deal with a through ball to Gavin and collides with him. Ref waves away penalty appeals and looks as if Wara is worse off than the Athlone man.
Dolia plays it across to Campion Hinds who heads it down for Pierrot, who drags it in. Flag goes up though.
Back underway.
Half time.
One minute added on.
Goal! Dolia cuts onto his left well outside the box and hammers it top corner! Unbelievable goal!
Minogue pulls off a good save from Banda at the near post. Big moment from the Athlone goalie.
Pierrot wastes a chance that was handed to him. Collectors item from the Haitian.
Goal! Athlone have their cushion after Pierrot threads Dolia through and he keeps his cool!
Goal! Watson crosses to Banda and he towers above the defence to head it in! Harps are back in it!
Goal! Jamar Campion Hinds drills a cross in and Wara fires it into his own net! Horror show from the Harps centre alf, but Athlone won't care.
Harps are starting to boil. Carolan would want to get a hold of this match.
Hutchinson deliberately fouls Dolia, is called for a foul but doesn't get a booking. Interesting decision from Daryl Carolan.
Goal! Van Geenan gives Athlone the lead following a one-two in the box from a corner. Lovely improvised play between himself and Hickey.
Pierrot bursts into the area, leaving Makinson on the grass. Wara grabs hold of him and the ref decides it's not a penalty. Harsh on Pierrot, looked as if he'd been rewarded for a great bit of play. Athlone on top so far.
We're off.
Minutes silence beforehand.
Teams are out, kickoff is nigh.
Hello and welcome to finalwhistle.ie for live coverage of today's LOIFD encounter between Athlone Town and Finn Harps. I'm Seán Comber and I'll be updating you throughout.