1 v 1 
Athlone Town| Brian McManus 23' | 1-0 | |
1-1 | 36' Stephen Meaney | |
| 65' Aidan Friel | ||
| Michael Barker 89' |
Details
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 October 2021 | 7:45 pm | LOI Men's First Division | 2021 |
Match Report
Shels held to draw by Athlone
SSE Airtricity League First Division Champions, Shelbourne were held to a 1-1 draw at Tolka Park by play-off hopefuls Athlone Town.
A Brian McManus goal was cancelled out by a Stephen Meaney header just before half-time.
The game began at a decent pace with Athlone ‘keeper, Micheal Schlingermann being forced into action on a couple of occasions in the opening 10 minutes.
Ally Gilchrist also went close after getting on the end of a corner. However, he saw his header go just wide of Schlingermann’s goal.
The host’s pressure finally told after 23 minutes when Brian McManus won his side a corner. The subsequent kick was whipped in and McManus found himself on the end of it a few yards from goal and tapped in on the volley.
Shels took control of the game after going ahead but could not capitalise on their dominance and Athlone were level within 15 minutes of the hosts taking the lead.
Former Shels man, Glen McAuley found space on the wing and put in an inviting cross which Stephen Meaney got his head on and drew his side level.
The Reds went straight down the other end and looked certain to go ahead again but Schlingermann denied them with a wonderful double save.
Going into half-time both sides would have been expected to come out flying for the second half. However, this was not the case and the second period had the pace of what seemed like a pre-season game.
Both sides had a few half chances and shots from distance but nothing of note.
It was certainly not a performance of champions from Shelbourne who had a number of key players on the bench from the start.
For Athlone, it was hard to tell that they were fighting for a promotion spot with not a lot of action for them at the top of the pitch.
Overall, it was a disappointing game of football from two sides that we expected to offer much more.
Timeline
| 8' | Scott Delaney Brandon McCann |
|
| 11. Brian McManus | 23' | |
| 36' | Stephen Meaney | |
| Stanley Anaebonam Dayle Rooney |
62' | |
| 65' | 2. Aidan Friel | |
| Shane Farrell Gavin Molloy |
76' | |
| Yoyo Mahdy Ryan Brennan |
76' | |
| 77' | James Doona Lee Duffy |
|
| Yassine En-Neyah Michael O'Connor |
84' | |
| George Poynton Alex Nolan |
84' | |
| 84' | Kurtis Byrne Daniel McKenna |
|
| 84' | Derek Daly David Brookes |
|
| 14. Michael Barker | 89' |
Past Meetings
|
(Series 19)
4 - 0Tolka Park Shelbourne v Athlone Town |
|
(Series 16)
1 - 3Athlone Town Stadium Athlone Town v Shelbourne |
|
(Series 10)
5 - 0Tolka Park Shelbourne v Athlone Town |
|
(Series 7)
1 - 0Tolka Park Shelbourne v Athlone Town |
|
(Series 1)
0 - 2Athlone Town Stadium Athlone Town v Shelbourne |
|
(Quarter Final)
4 - 1Athlone Town Stadium Athlone Town v Shelbourne |
|
(Series 4)
0 - 3Athlone Town Stadium Athlone Town v Shelbourne |
Ground
| Tolka Park |
|---|
| Tolka Park (Shelbourne FC), Drumcondra South A ED, Dublin, County Dublin, Leinster, Ireland |
Conor Byrne
A journalist with an interest in sports. BA in Multimedia Journalism from the University Of Wolverhampton.
FULL-TIME: Shelbourne 1-1 Athlone Town
McAuley's strike is straight at Brendan Clarke
Meaney goes close after some great footwork but ultimately his shot is off target
Glen McAuley strikes from a free-kick but slips and sees his effort go wide
A terrible second half with both sides unable to create any clear cut chances
Play resumes
Derek Daly is down receiving attention
Ryan Brennan and Gavin Molloy on to replace Shane Farrell and Yousef Mahdy
Aidan Friel gets booked
Dayle Rooney on to replace Anoaebonam
Derek Daly lets fly and sees his effort go just over the bar
McManus strikes from distance but it is straight at Schlingermann
Shels get the second period underway
The players are on the pitch ahead of the second half
HALF-TIME: Shelbourne 1-1 Athlone Town
Shane Farrell hits one on the volley but it is is well off tatrget
Fantastic footwork from Mahdy ends with Schlingermann making another save
Schlingermann keeps his side level at the other end making two wonderful saves
Stephen Meaney gets on the end of a Glen McAuley cross and heads home
Athlone are level
Shels are really in control with Athlone struggling to get on the ball
Sobowale drives at the Shels defence and his shot is well blocked
He gets on the end of the resulting corner and volleys home from close in
McManus makes a good run and wins himself a corner
Ally Gilchrist heads just wide from a corner
Mahdy forces another great save from Schlingermann and wins a corner
Brandon McCann is on to replace Delaney
Play resumes
Play is stopped as Scott Delaney is down receiving treatment
Mahdy is played through and goes close with his shot going just past the post
Brian McManus lets fly from distance and forces a good save from Micheal Schlingermann
Athlone get the game underway
The players are on the pitch ahead of kick-off
Just over ten minutes to go until kick-off
Athlone have made two changes from last week's win with Meaney and McAuley coming in to replace Barnes and Duffy
Shelbourne have made five changes from last week's win; Anaebonam, Barker, Mahdy, McManus and Kouogan are in replacing O'Connor, Brennan, Wilson, Byrne and Ledwidge
Kick-off is at 7.45pm with team news to come very soon
Paul Doolin's men will be looking to put the pressure on the teams above them and get a result against the league champions
Athlone are still in with a chance of finishing in a play-off spot and they come into tonight following a 2-1 victory at home to Cabinteely thanks to goal scorers James Doona and Kurtis Byrne
Shelbourne secured the league title and their return to the Premier Division last week after a 1-0 win at home to Treaty United courtesy of a George Poynton penalty
Tolka Park is the venue for tonight's game
Hello and welcome to Final Whistle's coverage of tonight's SSE Airtricity League First Division fixture between Shelbourne and Athlone Town