2 v 3 
Athlone TownDetails
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 August 2023 | 7:30 pm | LOI Men's First Division | 2023 |
Match Report
Pierrot strikes at the death for bragging rights
A brace from Frantz Pierrot saw Athlone Town earn the bragging rights for the third time this season in the Midlands ‘El Clasico’.
Just when it looked like a brace from Cristian Magerusan was going to give Longford Town their first win of the season over their rivals, Pierrot grabbed two goals in eight minutes to grab his 18th and 19th goals of the season.
In the 11th minute Enda Minogue brought off a good save to deny Beineon O’Brien Whitmarsh. Lewis Temple put in a good tackle on Pierrot in the 15th minute.
It took the game a while to ignite. Just after the half hour mark Magerusan’s bicycle kick was straight at Minogue as the home side tried to create another chance.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 38th minute and it was the visitors that got the opening goal. Patrick Hickey flicked the ball into the path of Val Dolia and he fired to the net. That was his 10th goal of the season.
Longford’s response was terrific, two minutes later they were back on level terms. Dylan Hand did well to win the header and Magerusan finished the ball to the net.
In the 57th minute Kyle O’Connor got into a good position to cross for Shane Elworthy but his header at the back post just went over. The home side continued to press for a second goal.
The second goal came in the 65th as that man Magerusan was once again the tormentor. A free from Viktor Serdeniuk was headed to the net by the in-form striker for his eighth goal of the season and his fifth in three games.
Both managers began to ring the changes. One of the Athlone substitutes was involved in their equaliser in the 80th minute; Daniel Orrego with a low ball into the box and Pierrot made no mistake. His fourth goal in the three games against Longford Town. Longford players made it too easy for Athlone, standing off them.
Athlone were buoyed up by the goal. In the 84th minute Hickey decided to pass the Pierrot instead of taking the chance himself. Down the other end Magerusan’s free went over the bar.
The game changed in Athlone’s favour in the 88th minute when Pierrot showed great control and held off Gavin O’Brien to fire an excellent shot to the net.
Timeline
| 38' | 10. Valerii Dolia | |
| 9. Cristian Magerusan | 40' | |
| 47' | 2. German Fuentes Rodriguez | |
| 56' | German Fuentes Rodriguez Haji Abdikadir | |
| 60' | Valerii Dolia Daniel Orrego | |
| 60' | 15. Haji Abdikadir | |
| 9. Cristian Magerusan | 65' | |
| 9. Cristian Magerusan | 71' | |
| 73' | Jack Kavanagh Dylan Gavin | |
| Beineon O'Brien Whitmarsh Jordan Adeyemo | 74' | |
| Gary Armstrong Mohamed Boudiaf | 74' | |
| 80' | 9. Frantz Pierrot | |
| 84' | 5. Daniel McKenna | |
| 88' | 9. Frantz Pierrot | |
| Cristian Magerusan Josh Giurgi | 90' | |
| Adam Wixted James Doona | 90' | |
| Gavin O'Brien Bastien Hery | 90' |
Past Meetings
|
(Round 17)
1 - 0LOI Men's First Division
Athlone Town Stadium Athlone Town AFC 1-0 Longford Town FC |
|
(Round 1)
1 - 3LOI Men's First Division
Bishopsgate, Longford Longford Town FC 1-3 Athlone Town AFC |
|
(Round 33)
2 - 2LOI Men's First Division
Athlone Town Stadium Athlone Town 2-2 Longford Town |
|
(Round 25)
1 - 3LOI Men's First Division
Bishopsgate, Longford Longford Town 1-3 Athlone Town |
|
(Round 16)
1 - 2LOI Men's First Division
Athlone Town Stadium Athlone Town v Longford Town |
|
(Round 9)
2 - 0LOI Men's First Division
Bishopsgate, Longford Longford Town v Athlone Town |
|
(Series 14)
0 - 4LOI Men's First Division
Athlone Town Stadium Athlone Town v Longford Town |
|
(Series 5)
2 - 0LOI Men's First Division
Bishopsgate, Longford Longford Town v Athlone Town |
Ground
| Bishopsgate, Longford |
|---|
| City Calling Stadium, L50021, Mullolagher, Cloondara ED, Longford Municipal District, County Longford, Leinster, 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
Enda Minogue with two good saves to deny Jordan Adeyemo
Frantz Pierrot with great control, holds off Gavin O'Brien before firing a fantastic strike to the net.
Magerusan free is over the bar
Daniel McKenna is booked
Athlone now have their tails up
Longford stand off Athlone players. A low ball in from Orrego. That's 4 goals in the 3 games for Pierrot against Longford
Lewis Temple is having a good game here.
Athlone trying hard to get back into this game.
Beineon O'Brien Whitmarsh is off
Jordan Adeyemo is on
Gary Armstrong is off
Mo Boudiaf is on
Jack Kavanagh is taken off
Dylan Gavin is on
Cristian Magerusan is booked
A corner for Athlone after a deflection from Gary Armstrong
And it\'s that man again Cristian Magerusan. Free in from Viktor Serdeniuk and headed to the net by Magerusan.
Val Dolia is off
Daniel Orrego is on
Haji Abdikadir is booked for a foul on Magerusan
Shane Elworthy has too much on the cross and it goes out
Kyle O'Connor with a ball into the box and Shane Elworthy at the backpost just heads over.
Rodriguez off injured
Haji Abdikadir is on
Ball too quick for Kyle O'Connor and it goes out for a goal-kick
German Fuentes Rodriguez is booked for tackle on Cristian Magerusan.
Jamar Campion-Hinds effort is blasted over
Cristian Magerusan with his 7th goal of the season. Great header from Dylan Hand to win the ball
Valerii Dolia with the game's opening goal. A throw-in was flicked on by Patrick Hickey into the patch of Dolia.
Frantz Pierrot's free comes off Viktor Serdeniuk's back
Athlone have a free
The home side nearly mess up with their short corner.
Longford win a corner.
A bicycle kick from Cristian Magerusan. Great chance for the home side
Patrick Hickey starts a good move for Athlone but the final pass to him is quite heavy
Town will possession but no clear cut chances.
Great tackle from Lewis Temple on Frantz Pierrot
Patrick Hickey with a long shot but it's well wide
Enda Minogue pulls off a good save to deny O'Brien Whitmarsh. A mistake from Athlone. Longford with a corner
It comes to nothing
Corner for Athlone
Gavin O'Brien with a long ball down field but there is too much on it for Beineon O'Brien Whitmarsh
Shane Elworthy with a shot but it's blocked down
The rain is lashing down and it won't help the quality of the game.
Good crowd here. Starting to rain now.
In their two previous games this season Athlone have defeated Longford twice. They won the opening game of the season 3-1 and then when they met in Athlone they won 1-0. Frantz Pierrot has scored 3 goals in those two games.
Longford are unbeaten in two games while Athlone are unbeaten in three. In their last game Longford came from 2-0 down to defeat Bray Wanderers on Monday afternoon last while that evening Athlone beat Finn Harps 4-1. Michael Peprah was sent off for Athlone and missing this evening's game through suspension
Six points separate the two sides. Athlone are 4th in the table while Town slipped to 7th last night with Bray snatching a draw with Cobh Ramblers.
Welcome to the Midlands 'El Clasico'. It's Longford Town v Athlone Town from Bishopsgate.