6 v 0 
Athlone Town| Darren Clarke 2' | 1-0 | |
| Stephen Walsh 4' | 2-0 | |
| Rob Manley 11' | 3-0 | |
| Stephen Walsh 37' | ||
| Vincent Borden 47' | 4-0 | |
| Darren Clarke 60' | 5-0 | |
| Rob Manley 84' | 6-0 | |
| Darren Clarke 86' |
Details
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 September 2023 | 7:45 pm | LOI Men's First Division | 2023 |
Match Report
Champions Galway Continue Fine Form
Darren Clarke and Rob Manley scored a brace apiece as First Division Champions Galway Utd inflicted a heavy defeat on Athlone Town at Eamonn Deacy Park.
Clarke opened the scoring in the second minute with Manley grabbing Utd’s sixth in the 84th minute.
The home side were ruthless against a young and weakened Athlone Town side. They took the game straight to Athlone and were 3-0 up after 11 minutes.
Athlone were extremely poor and offered very little. Galway keeper Brendan Clarke wasn’t troubled once during the game as he kept his goal intact.
Just two minutes had elapsed on the clock when the home side broke the deadlock. A fine cross from the left found Clarke and he fired past Enda Minogue.
Galway doubled their advantage in the fourth minute. Aodh Dervin’s cross found Clarke at the far post, he headed the ball down and it was finished to the net by Walsh.
Goal number three for the home side came in the 11th minute; Clarke did well to win possession, he then slipped the ball into Manley who fired a fine effort past the hapless Athlone netminder.
Athlone were stunned by Dylan Gavin and Oisin Duffy had chances but both their efforts went wide. In the 27th minute Walsh had a chance to grab his second and his side’s fourth goal. Manley’s effort was blocked and Walsh pounced on the loose ball but blasted it over the bar.
Two minutes into the second half Galway got their fourth goal; a corner was swung in by David Hurley, the ball was headed down nicely for Borden and he found the net with a neat finish.
In the 55th minute substitute Maurice Nugent saw his header come off the crossbar as the home side didn’t let up in pressing for more goals. They got their fifth on the hour mark and it was a stunning finish from Clarke; Borden played the ball to him, he took it down and turned before volleying to the net.
Athlone sub Aaron Connolly had a chance from a free in the 67th minute but hit his effort wide. Manley finished off the scoring for Galway in the 84th minute; Daire McCarthy with the assist and Manley with a lovely finish.
Timeline
| 23. Darren Clarke | 2' | |
| 7. Stephen Walsh | 4' | |
| 9. Rob Manley | 11' | |
| 7. Stephen Walsh | 37' | |
| 39' | Michael Peprah Matthew Baker |
|
| 17. Vincent Borden | 47' | |
| 56' | Daniel McKenna Aaron Connolly |
|
| 56' | German Fuentes Rodriguez Valerii Dolia |
|
| 23. Darren Clarke | 60' | |
| David Hurley Daire McCarthy |
61' | |
| Rob Slevin Oisin O'Reilly |
61' | |
| 74' | Matthew Leal Nazar Zubkov |
|
| 74' | Dylan Gavin Néhémie Lamtoukou |
|
| Vincent Borden Ronan Manning |
75' | |
| 9. Rob Manley | 84' | |
| 23. Darren Clarke | 86' |
Past Meetings
Ground
| Eamonn Deacy Park |
|---|
| Eamonn Deacy Park, Dyke Road, Terryland, Menlough, Galway City, County Galway, Connacht, H91 ET6N, 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
Hickey blocks Manley's effort
Daire McCarthy with the assist and Manley with an excellent finish
Galway are not allowing Athlone create anything to trouble Brendan Clarke
Athlone have a free
What a stunning goal from Darren Clarke. Borden with the ball to him he took it down before turning and volleying to the net.
Daniel McKenna is off
Aaron Connolly is on
Another corner for Galway
That was a neat finish from Borden. Corner from David Hurley, headed down nicely for Borden.
Vincent Borden has grabbed a fourth goal
Regan Donelon is off
Maurice Nugent is on
Stephen Walsh is off
Colm Horgan is on
A header from Rob Slevin but it's straight at Minogue
Michael Peprah is off
Matthew Baker is on for Athlone
Stephen Walsh is booked
Galway defending well
Patrick Hickey is fouled and Athlone have a free
Enda Minogue has to be quick there to get the ball
Aodh Dervin with a cross into the box, Manley's shot is blocked and then blasted over the bar by Walsh
Oisin Duffy with a low drive that is wide
Dylan Gavin with a decent effort for the visitors but it's wide
Clarke involved in that goal. Did well to retain possession before slipping the ball into Manley.
And there's a third. Lovely finish from Rob Manley
Athlone try and get in but it's too easy for Brendan Clarke
A cross from Aodh Dervin is headed down by Clarke and then finished to the net by Stephen Walsh. What a start from the home side.
Darren Clarke puts the home side ahead after a good cross from Regan Donelon.
In their previous three meetings this season Galway have won all three. Two games ended 3-1 with one finishing 1-0. David Hurley scored in all three games.
Galway Utd had a 1-0 win over Finn Harps at home on Monday night while Athlone Town fell to their biggest defeat of the season last weekend away to Treaty Utd - 4-1.
Athlone Town slipped to 5th in the table on Monday night after Wexford's win over Longford Town but they are still hot favourites to claim that last spot; they are eight points ahead of Longford Town and Treaty Utd.
Galway Utd are unbeaten at home this season and will want to keep that record intact tonight.
It's the M6 derby at Eamonn Deacy Park as Galway Utd entertain Athlone Town