6 v 0 
Athlone TownDetails
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 August 2021 | 7:45 pm | LOI Men's First Division | 2021 |
Match Report
UCD hit Athlone for six
UCD absolutely hammered the visiting Athlone Town tonight, putting six past their closest threat in the table.
An own goal from Michaél Schlingermann, a hat-trick from Colm Whelan, one from Liam Kerrigan and another from substitute Adam Lennon sent the visitors home with egg on their face.
UCD threatened in the opening few minutes but had nothing concrete to show from their efforts. Conor Whelan had a pair of chances but neither produced anything.
However, it was Sam Todd at the back to thank for the breakthrough in the 24th minute. Paul Doyle sent in a corner from the left and Todd rose highest to meet it.
His effort hit the post, before hitting off Michaél Schlingermann’s back and going in. Although it won’t go down as his goal, Todd deserves props for his excellent header.
UCD kept the pressure and doubled their lead right on the brink of half time. Whelan picked up the ball on the edge of the area, cut onto his left foot and found the bottom left corner. Athlone, despite not playing terribly, were in a hole at half time. They only managed to dig down in the second half.
Ten minutes after half time and the points were secured. Paul Doyle again turned provider, picking up the ball in midfield and threading through a lovely ball for Liam Kerrigan. Kerrigan rounded Schlingermann, gained his composure and tapped in. The showing only got prettier for UCD in the coming minutes.
The two goalscorers combined for the fourth. Adam Wixted was dispossessed in midfield and Whelan played a sublime ball out to Kerrigan, who returned the favour and Whelan made no mistake. His thirtieth goal at senior level and it was a sight to behold.
Just over two minutes later, Marc Dignam was replaced by Adam Lennon, who played for Athlone just last season. Right after coming on, Lennon found himself on the edge of a Kerrigan cross, making it five. Yet another assist for Kerrigan and a great cameo appearance from Lennon.
The cake got its’ icing in the 73rd minute, when Kerrigan again crossed to Lennon, whose header at the back post found Whelan, who poked home for a hat-trick. That wrapped up a perfect night for manager Andy Meyler against the side he once played for.
For UCD, it was simply perfection. They were solid at the back and absolutely ruthless in front of goal, punishing every sloppy moment from Athlone. Promotion now looks impossible for the visitors, who are now eight points off the playoff spots with eight to play. It’s safe to say that the leagues’ top five look set in stone.
Timeline
| 11. Colm Whelan | 9' | |
| 16. Micheál Schlingermann | 24' | |
| 11. Colm Whelan | 44' | |
| 46' | Conor Barry Kurtis Byrne | |
| 46' | Glen McAuley Shane Barnes | |
| 7. Liam Kerrigan | 55' | |
| 62' | Aidan Friel Daniel McKenna | |
| 62' | Garry Comerford Tunmise Sobowale | |
| 11. Colm Whelan | 64' | |
| Mark Dignam Adam Lennon | 67' | |
| 34. Adam Lennon | 68' | |
| 69' | Jamie Hollywood Oisin Duffy | |
| 11. Colm Whelan | 73' | |
| Evan Osam Michael Gallagher | 74' | |
| Sam Todd Luke Boore | 74' | |
| Colm Whelan Sammy Ayoola | 75' | |
| Liam Kerrigan Daniel Norris | 75' | |
| 84' | 6. Dylan Hand | |
| 86' | 5. Daniel McKenna |
Past Meetings
|
(Series 10)
2 - 3LOI Men's First Division
Athlone Town Stadium Athlone Town v University College Dublin AFC |
|
(Series 1)
2 - 2LOI Men's First Division
UCD Bowl University College Dublin AFC v Athlone Town |
|
(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 |
Officials
| Referee |
|---|
| Alan Carey |
Ground
| UCD Bowl |
|---|
| UCD Bowl, Greenfield Park, Greenfield, Roebuck, Clonskeagh-Belfield ED, Dublin, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, County Dublin, Leinster, D04 XT65, Ireland |
Full time. The students were simply sublime. Playoff teams look nailed on now.
Three minutes added on.
Another one! Whelan with a tap in to make it six.
Replaced by Conor Barry.
Jamie Hollywood is off.
Goal! Lennon heads from a cross, making an instant impact.
He's replaced by Adam Lennon.
Dignam makes way.
Goal! Colm Whelan bags his thirtieth senior goal for UCD after a lovely one-two with fellow goalscorer Kerrigan. The hosts are putting on a show here.
They're replacing Aidan Friel and Garry Comerford.
Athlone rolling the dice again. McKenna and Sobowale are coming on.
Athlone dealing with constant UCD pressure here. The students seem determined to add more.
Goal! Kerrigan is played through and rounds Schlingermann before tapping it in, wrapping up the three points.
They're replaced by Kurtis Byrne and Shane Barnes.
Athlone get us underway and also use a double sub. McAuley and Barry are off.
That brings us to half time. UCD seem likely now to pick up their first win in four.
Goal! On the brink of half time, Colm Whelan picks up the ball on the edge of the area and finds the bottom left with his left foot.
Schlingermann pulls off a great save. Ball was whipped in and Sam Verdon flicked it on, with his effort destined for just inside the left post, however Schlingermann lunged and tipped it wide, keeping the deficit at just one.
Weir tries one from way out but it sails over. UCD have picked up a gear since scoring, however.
Goal! Paul Doyle whips in a corner from the left and Sam Todd rises highest to meet it and the ball hits the post before coming back and hitting Schlingermann before going in, giving the hosts the lead.
Now it's James Doona's turn, who tries one from range but was only denied the bottom right by the post. Game has seriously picked up these last few minutes.
Now Paul Doyle raises him one, trying one from way out from open play. Ball swerved and dipped but just went over.
Glen McAuley tries a free from way out that just dipped over. Very nearly had another viral goal.
Not much in the opening. Two half chances for Colm Whelan, but nothing concrete.
UCD get us underway.
Here we go. Athlone team news is now in.
Still awaiting the Athlone team news...
Ireland U21 player Colm Whelan leads the line for the hosts tonight.
UCD team news is now in.
A win however would move them to two points behind UCD and perhaps cast some doubt into the mind of the students. Recent form however and previous head to heads would indicate that the home side should fancy themselves here.
A loss for Athlone tonight will all but finish their playoff chances as they'd find themselves eight points adrift of the playoff places with eight to play. On top of that, a Cabinteely win in Wexford tonight accompanied by an Athlone loss will see Cabo leapfrog Athlone in the table.
Hello and welcome to finalwhistle.ie for tonight's first division clash between UCD and Athlone Town, I'm Seán Comber and I'll be taking you through tonight's proceedings.