Details

Date Time League Season
7 May 2021 7:45 pm LOI Men's First Division 2021

Match Report

Brennan delivers for Shels

Ryan Brennan’s goal five minutes before the hour mark was the difference for Shelbourne, against Athlone Town at Tolka Park this evening.

The midfielder got lucky with a deflection after a clever piece of play. As the ball fell to him, he let go from inside the box, and saw the ball ricochet into the roof of the net; giving Micheal Schlingermann no chance.

Athlone had most of the possession in the opening period, but they failed to capitalise and created very few clear-cut chances. The only opportunity of note fell to James Doona, who unleashed a strike from outside the box; but it sailed over the bar.

Brennan came close just before half time, with a wonderful header that was cleared off the line. Jamie Hollywood did well to clear the ball away. 

The home side began to dominate after taking the lead and had some great passages of play.

Another strike in the 63rd minute from Michael O’Connor was also cleared off the line, after the striker picked up a loose ball from a corner and let fly. He was unlucky to see his effort blocked on the line by Dan McKenna.

Shels could have easily gone two up on a couple of occasions. JJ Lunney had a great strike that just missed the target five minutes from full time. 

Dayle Rooney also had a gilt-edged opportunity after George Poynton rounded the ‘keeper and played him in. Rooney came agonisingly close and hit the post.

The away side failed to trouble Brendan Clarke’s goal in the second half. The Reds’s defence had a very solid performance. 

This Shels win was well deserved considering the amount of chances they had and they could have easily won by three or four goals.

The result sees The Reds remain unbeaten in seven games so far this season. An excellent start for Ian Morris’s men.

Meanwhile, Athlone suffer their second defeat in a row and their second of the season. A very disappointing night for Adrian Carberry’s side.

 

Shelbourne

1Brendan Clarke Goalkeeper
2Michael Barker Defender
3Kevin O’Connor Defender
4Ally Gilchrist Defender
6JJ Lunney Midfielder
9Michael O’Connor Forward
10Ryan Brennan 26 Midfielder 55'
11Yoyo Mahdy 16 Forward
14Brian McManus Midfielder
17Shane Farrell 18 Forward
23Luke Byrne Defender
25Jack Brady Goalkeeper
7Glen McAuley Forward
15Maxim Kouogan Defender
16John Ross Wilson 11 Defender
18Dayle Rooney 17 Midfielder
19Sean Quinn Midfielder
21Alex Cetiner Forward
24David Toure Midfielder
26George Poynton 10 Midfielder

Athlone Town

16Micheál Schlingermann Goalkeeper
3Derek Daly Defender 8'
4Daniel McKenna Midfielder
6Killian Cantwell Defender
7Adam Wixted Midfielder
8Jamie Hollywood 19 Midfielder 41'
10Kurtis Byrne 21 Forward
14James Doona Midfielder
15Jonny Carlin Defender
21Dylan Hand Defender
28Shane Barnes 11 Forward 36'
1Kayleum Rice Goalkeeper
5Scott Delaney Defender
11Stephen Meaney 28 Midfielder
13David Brookes Defender
18Oisin Duffy Midfielder
19Brandon McCann 8 Midfielder
21Jack Reynolds 10 Midfielder
22Jack Watson Midfielder
24Tristan Noack Hofmann Defender
  • The home side remain unbeaten so far this season while Athlone suffer their second defeat in a row and second of the season

  • They had the better chances out of the two sides and did well to soak up the pressure in the last ten minutes

  • Shels took control of the game five minutes before the hour mark and took the lead

  • 90'

    Full Time: Shelbourne 1-0 Athlone Town

  • 89'

    Great chance to put his side two up

  • 89'

    Rooney hits the post after great play from George Poynton

  • 87'

    Replaced by McCann

  • 87'

    Hollywood goes off

  • 85'

    Lunney has wonderful chance but misses the target

  • 83'

    Replaced by John Ross Wilson

  • 83'

    Mahdy off

  • 80'

    Brendan Clarke makes a meal out of what seems to be a simple catch, lucky that no one was around to capitalise

  • 79'

    Reynolds on to replace him

  • 79'

    Byrne goes off

  • 78'

    Brennan goes off

  • 78'

    Poynton comes on

  • 77'

    The resulting corner is headed onto the bar by Mahdy

  • 77'

    A JJ Lunney strike is well saved by Schlingermann and goes out for a corner

  • 72'

    Shane Farrell goes off

  • 72'

    Dayle Rooney comes on

  • 72'

    Shane Barnes goes off

  • 72'

    Stephen Meaney comes on

  • 68'

    An Athlone free kick takes a dangerous bounce in the Shels box but Brendan Clarke cleverly comes off his line to gather

  • 63'

    The strike is met on the line by Dan McKenna who makes an excellent block

  • 63'

    A loose ball from a Shels corner finds Michael O\'Connor who unleashes a powerful strike

  • 62'

    Frustration seems to be creeping in for Athlone. They are struggling to put passes together

  • 58'

    Shane Farell cuts in from the right and lets fly. The shot is straight at Schlingermann who holds comfortably

  • 55'

    Definitely a case of curse of the commentator

  • 55'

    A deflection fell kindly to Brennan who unleashed a strike that deflected into the top of the net

  • 55'

    Ryan Brennan puts his side ahead

  • 53'

    A scrappy start to the second half sees both sides struggling to create chances

  • 46'

    Shelbourne kick us off to start the second half

  • Both sets of players return to the pitch for the start of the second half

  • However, Athlone are dominating possession in the middle of the park and just need a killer pass to unlock the Shels defence

  • The home side seem to have had more of the chances in the first half and look more likely to score

  • 45'

    Half Time: Shelbourne 0-0 Athlone Town

  • 45'

    Brennan with a great header from a corner but it is blocked on the line from Hollywood

  • 41'

    Hollywood stops a Shels counter attack with a professional foul and receives a yellow

  • 36'

    Barnes gives away the ball cheaply and in frustration commits a late challenge resulting in a booking

  • 34'

    The free kick form Kevin O'Connor is well hit but Schlingermann is equal to it

  • 33'

    Brennan with a clever piece of play results in a Shels free kick in a dangerous position

  • 28'

    Ryan Brennan gets a free header from a corner but gets under the ball and sees it go over the bar

  • 24'

    A low cross from Jamie Hollywood is flicked on but well saved by Brendan Clarke

  • 20'

    James Doona with Athlone's first real effort after he picks up a loose ball and cuts onto his right foot but his shot just goes over the bar

  • 13'

    Yousef Mahdy gets the second chance of the game as he connects with a flick on but it's comfortably saved by Schlingermann

  • 8'

    Derek Daly receives a yellow card after a late sliding challenge

  • 1'

    An early chance falls Michael O'Connor who fluffs his lines and Micheal Schlingermann gathers

  • And we're underway as Athlone kick off

  • Shels have four joint top scorers in their team with two goals each and three start tonight in Ryan Brennan, Shane Farrell and Yousef Mahdy.

  • Athlone's Stephen Meaney misses out tonight and he will be a massive loss for The Town as he is currently their top scorer with three goals this season

  • It is a clear night in north Dublin and seems to be a perfect night for football

  • Tolka Park is the venue tonight and we look set for a wonderful game of football as first place take on fourth place

  • Hello and welcome to Final Whistle's coverage of tonight's game between Shelbourne and Athlone Town

Past Meetings

(Series 1)
0 - 2
LOI Women's Premier Division
Athlone Town Stadium

Athlone Town v Shelbourne

(Quarter Final)
4 - 1
FAI Cup
Athlone Town Stadium

Athlone Town v Shelbourne

(Series 4)
0 - 3
LOI Women's Premier Division
Athlone Town Stadium

Athlone Town v Shelbourne

Ground

Tolka Park
Tolka Park (Shelbourne FC), Drumcondra South A ED, Dublin, County Dublin, Leinster, Ireland

A journalist with an interest in sports. BA in Multimedia Journalism from the University Of Wolverhampton.