Goals in either half from Dana Scheriff and Gillian Keenan gave Athlone all three points in their final home game of the season, surviving late on against a resurgent Wexford. 

Scheriff had given the hosts the lead in the opening half before minutes into the second stanza Keenan tapped home from close range. Athlone pressed well for a third but it was Wexford who pulled one back through Nicola Sinnott.

The contest came back to life and for the final quarter it was certainly pulsating as to who would take the points in Lissywollen. Nicole Nix was in inspired form in net for Wexford, producing a host of fine saves especially to keep Wexford one behind late on.

Making her debut in the Athlone rearguard Mary Philips was excellent and did not put a foot wrong all evening. Athlone missing Lucy Jane Grant due to being involved in an accident earlier in the day, wishing her well following that incident.

It was a largely cagey opening in truth with neither goalkeeper tested in the opening ten minutes, Athlone did spring to life with a few chances towards goal, Dana Scheriff finding Muireann Deavey on the edge of the area and her effort was not too far away.

Athlone continued to press on, Kellie Brennan played a long ball on the right wing that landed to the waiting Dana Scheriff, the American making a terrific run as it looked like Lauren Karabin was on the end of Brennan’s delivery. Sheriff had the time to slot low past Nicole Nix for the opener with 23 minutes on the clock.

Less than sixty seconds after giving Athlone the lead and netting her 11th goal of the campaign, Sheriff almost found the net for a second time. This time a little bobble on the artificial surface in Lissywollen hindered the forward, an attempted lob of Nix landed over the crossbar.

Devaney fancied her chances again from range, just after the half hour mark the midfielder fired over from range but the effort certainly was dipping. Wexford could control the ball well but just failed to create any chances, right at the death of the half, Lauren Karabin played a defence splitting ball in behind and with Scheriff chasing it down, Nix was out a long way from goal to clear the danger.

The Midlanders remained on top going into the interval and with just eight minutes elapsed in the second half the lead was doubled. Terrific work by Athlone to get the ball into the box and Isabel Ryan with the work rate to cross across the face of goal on the right hand side of the area, providing a simple task for Gillian Keenan to tap into an empty net at the back post.

Just after the hour mark the right footed Scheriff rattled the crossbar of the Athlone goal following a left footed free kick on the edge of the area.A matter of inches between the ball nestling in the top corner and reverberating the woodwork. Nix did well to save a follow up effort from Brennan.

Nix needed to be alert minutes later to deny Scheriff a second with a curling effort from inside the area, the danger however was not averted as Roisin Molloy was on hand to gather the rebound, Lauren Dwyer produced an incredible piece of defending to block the ball on the line.

A big moment for the visitors and just three minutes later they pulled one back. Ciara Rossiter with a corner on the right wing, the delivery was excellent and the header from Nicola Sinnott nestled in the left hand bottom corner of Katie Keane’s goal. 

Four minutes later it could have been two. Wexford aiming a ball in behind for former Athlone striker Emily Corbett, Keane showed some hesitation in coming out to claim possession and Athlone’s and the league’s top scorer last season almost came back to haunt them. Jesi Rossman with a superb piece of defending to stretch and prevent the ball crossing the line.

In the final ten minutes chances occurred at both ends, Michaela Lawrence had a shot saved by Keane. While at the other end, Nix made herself big to close the angle on Scheriff attempting to chip her to put the game to bed minutes from time.

Nix was heroic at the death for Wexford, producing another stunning save to deny Molloy from close range. Sheriff involved in the buildup as her header fell toward Molloy at the back post and hitting a rasping strike high toward the goal, Nix produced a strong hand to parry the effort away.