2 v 2 
Athlone TownVideo
Details
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 March 2021 | 7:45 pm | LOI Men's First Division | 2021 |
Match Report
Wixted Rescues Athlone with Late Leveller
In what was a hugely entertaining match, it is hard to imagine that UCD will not feel frustrated with the manner of the conclusion.
The first half was played at a frenetic pace. Indeed, in the first minute, Athlone took the game to UCD and forced UCD keeper, Lorcan Healy, to pull off a magnificent save. Athlone were dominant in general play in the first quarter of the game, and an enterprising piece of individual play from Kurtis Byrne hit the crossbar.
Indeed for the opening twenty minutes, it seemed as if the first goal would come from Athlone, who attacked UCD well through James Doona on the left wing. However, it was UCD who broke the deadlock as Mark Dignam scored in the twenty-first minute.
Indeed, Dignam was tidy in possession for UCD and linked play well. Athlone Town gradually put more pressure on UCD and a cross from the right hand side by Aidan Friel was perfectly placed for the run of Stephen Meaney who glanced a header over the oncoming goalkeeper. 1-1 in Belfield at half-time. The midfield battle between Hollywood and Dignam was interesting to watch, with both players playing well.
In the second half, Sligo man Liam Kerrigan showed a blistering turn of pace to get past his marker but unfortunately for UCD, nobody was on hand in the penalty box to put the ball in the net. This seemed to be a problem for UCD as in general play, they were on top for large spells of the second half but their passing in the final third just didn’t open up the Athlone defence.
In the 74th minute, the students finally created a chance as Dara Keane was unleashed in space by a midfield pass and happily fired the ball into the bottom corner. 2-1 UCD and they could have made it 3-1 within two minutes as Liam Kerrigan found himself in a 3v3 situation but the Athlone defence knocked it out for a corner.
Donal Higgins, a second half substitute for UCD, really impressed in the quality of his movement and touch. The final moments are a testament to the determination of Adam Wixted who came alive as others tired. He fired in two crosses into the box that none of his team-mates could take advantage of.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man is the expression, and in the final moment of the game, Adam Wixted was the man for Athlone. A hopeful long ball from the keeper found him in the penalty area and from an acute angle, he calmly placed it into the net under the body of the onrushing keeper.
He ensured that Athlone will travel back down the motorway with a point. And in truth, it was probably the fairest result. Both teams will take positives from the game, and they will both certainly be looking for victory next weekend.
Timeline
| 8. Mark Dignam | 21' | |
| Michael Gallagher Evan Farrell | 33' | |
| 38' | Stephen Meaney | |
| Harry McEvoy Luke Boore | 45' | |
| Paul Doyle Dara Keane | 64' | |
| 69' | Stephen Meaney Jack Watson | |
| 69' | Jamie Hollywood Shane Barnes | |
| 17. Dara Keane | 74' | |
| Liam Kerrigan Adam Lennon | 81' | |
| Mark Dignam Donal Higgins | 81' | |
| 90' | 11. Adam Wixted |
Past Meetings
|
(Series 16)
2 - 4LOI Men's First Division
Athlone Town Stadium Athlone Town v University College Dublin AFC |
|
(Series 7)
2 - 1LOI Men's First Division
UCD Bowl University College Dublin AFC v Athlone Town |
1 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl UCD AFC v Athlone Town AFC |
2LOI Men's Premier Division
Athlone Town Stadium Athlone Town AFC v UCD AFC |
2 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl UCD AFC v Athlone Town AFC |
Ground
| UCD Bowl |
|---|
| UCD Bowl, Greenfield Park, Greenfield, Roebuck, Clonskeagh-Belfield ED, Dublin, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, County Dublin, Leinster, D04 XT65, Ireland |
Paul Regan
A sports nut who has coached at underage level in the League of Ireland. Passionate about domestic football.
Unbelievable!!! 93 minutes played and a long ball down from the Athlone keeper finds the danger man, Wixted, in the box and from a very acute angle shoots the ball under the keeper into the net.
A dangerous Wixted cross ends up with Friel 25 yeards out. His shot goes wide.
Can Athlone create on last chance?
Three minutes extra time.
Wixted has shown great perseverance and works hard down the right hand side. Unfortunately, for Athlone, nobodoy is on the end of the cross
Really silky movement from Higgins in the middle sets off UCD down the left and they win a free-kick
A good cross from Daly on the left hand side is defended well by UCD. They win a corner.
With five minutes to go, Can UCD hold on at home in their first game of the season?
In what was a good chance for Athlone, careless play as Athlone player is caught offside.
Good play from kurtis Byrne on the left almost creates a good chance for Athlone.
Friel plays Wixted in and an Athlone shot goes over. It sounded like a deflection but the referee awards UCD a goal kick
A great opportunity for KErrigan as UCD were 3v3 in attack but Athlone get it out for a corner. It is all UCD at the moment.
A great opportunity for KErrigan as UCD were 3v3 in attack but Athlone get it out for a corner. It is all UCD at the moment.
Dara Keane is played through in space into the box and fires it home to the corner. 2-1 UCD at the Bowl.
Goal for UCD
Jack Watson on for Hollywood
Shane Barnes on for Meaney
UCD win a free just outside the box, which Weir fires over.
Good work again from Weir down the left as he puts in a fantastic pass across the goal but unfortunately for UCD, there is nobody to take advantage.
UCD take their third corner in a row after sustained pressure but they cannot get a shot on target.
Healy makes a really fantastic save, making his body big to stop an Athlone shot by Doona
Meaney put Wixted in for a good chance where he probably had more time than he realised. Healy pulls off a good save for UCD.
A good move started by Byrne down the left almost put Whelan through on goal.
An enthusiastic challenge from new sub Byrne earns himself a warning from the referee.
A really good passage of play by UCD as the find gaps in the Athlone defence but Whelan's cross is too high Kerrigan who was in space.
Kerrigan with a nice turn of pace down the left pace put in a dangerous cross which almost finds Whelan in space
Half-time here at the Bowl. The midfield battle is interesting. Both Hollywood and Dignam have made impressive passes to start moves for their respective squads. It is finely poised here and it could go either way in the second half.
Athlone win a free kick on the left hand side but Byrne heads it wide.
Dignam has been impressive for the students in midfield so far in the first half
A great through ball puts Meaney through who is taken down and Athlone plead to the referee for a free kick!
Doona has been a constant threat down the left for Athlone.
Great work from Athlone down the right wing by Athlone! A Friel cross is expertly headed over the UCD keeper by Stephen Meaney to level the tie!!
Athlone have another corner on the right hand side, as they strive to get level again. The UCD keeper, Healy, catches the incoming cross.
Athlone again are putting great pressure on UCD down the left and they have won a corner after a great save again from Healy.
Byrne had a great shot save in penalty area. Magnificent reflexes from Meyler in goals.
Dignamis having a good start to the season in the middle of the pitch and he is really imposing himself on the opposition.
After a good cross, Whelan got a shot away but Schlingermann touched it over the bar. The corner beat everyone in the box and went wide on the far side.
UCD have sustained the pressure and have a free-kick outside the area on the right hand side.
Goal for UCD from Dignam!!!
UCD have sustained a period of pressure and win a second corner.
UCD win a corner on the left after an attack down the left.
Another good pass down the left puts Daly in space behind the UCD defence but his control let's him down.
Good play from Athlone who, after an initial attack on the left, play it round the right, and the cross is cleared for a corner. Athlone are dominating much of the possession so far.
UCD have a nice passage of play in midfield, with some nice crossfield passes, but the eventual cross is caught well by Schlingermann in goal for Athlone.
Byrne, out of nothing, had a really great effort from long-range and hits the crossbar!!!
Doona is a threat down the left early in the game
Athlone have had two good attacks down the left. They won a corner and it broke to Byrne who had a good chance. However, Healy in goal was up to the task.
In UCD's first attack, a good interplay between Doyle,Dignam and Whelan puts Whelan into a bit of space and he gets a shot off to test SChlingermann in goal.
UCD Kick off. Amazing start as Athlone attack down the left and they had a massive opportunity to score straight away. A great save from Healy in goals for UCD. That really would have been a great start for Adrian Carberry's men.
Welcome to a lovely March evening at the Belfield Bowl tonight for UCD v Athlone Town.