📰 Match Report | Athlone Town 1–1 Dundalk FC

Dundalk FC
Oct 4
3 min read

Stormy Midlands Stalemate as Dundalk Held by Athlone

Dundalk FC were forced to settle for a point at Lissywollen on Friday night as Athlone Town came from behind to claim a 1–1 draw in the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division.

Declan McDaid’s early strike put the Lilywhites in control, but a thunderous second-half free kick from substitute Aaron Connolly pegged the leaders back. Despite chances at both ends in the closing stages, neither side could find a winner.

Ciarán Kilduff’s men remain four points clear at the top with two games to go. A win at home to Finn Harps next Friday would be enough to seal promotion.

First Half: McDaid Strikes Against Former Club

Determined to bounce back from last week’s win over UCD, Dundalk made the perfect start. On seven minutes, Eoin Kenny cushioned the ball into the path of McDaid, who drilled a low effort from the edge of the box past Andrew Stuart-Trainor to silence his old home crowd.

The Lilywhites pressed hard for a second. Kenny had a neat finish ruled out for handball, while Gbemi Arubi went close with a header and Andy Paraschiv’s teasing cross was nodded just over by Conor O’Keeffe.

In stoppage time, Dundalk broke at pace with Kenny breaking free down the right, only for Stuart-Trainor to stand tall and block at his near post to keep Athlone in the contest.

The hosts, on the back foot for much of the half, offered little threat until the break, with Dylan Hand’s set-piece header their only glimpse of goal.

Second Half: Connolly Levels it Up

Athlone emerged far brighter after the restart. Substitute Jason Oyenuga twice tested veteran Peter Cherrie, who produced sharp stops at his near post, before Zach Lawless forced the 42-year-old into another reflex save.

Dundalk looked to kill the game when Aodh Dervin rattled the inside of the post with a half-volley just after the hour mark. But instead of doubling their lead, they were pegged back.

On 71 minutes, Vinnie Leonard was penalised for a foul on Derinsola Adewale. Up stepped Connolly, fresh from the bench, to fire an unstoppable free kick into the top corner, leaving Cherrie helpless and the home fans in full voice.

Kilduff’s side pushed hard for a late winner, with Norman Garbett and Kenny both going close, but the game ended all square, a result that keeps the title race alive heading into the final fortnight.

Highlights

Teams

Athlone Town: Andrew Stuart-Trainor; Reece Webb, Conor Quinn, Cole Omorehiomwan, Dylan Hand; Derinsola Adewale (Oisin Duffy 87), Junior Thiam (Jason Oyenuga HT), Daniel McKenna (Aaron Connolly HT), Zach Lawless; Ben Feeney (Colm Doyle 78), Gideon Tetteh (Adam Lennon 78).

Dundalk FC: Peter Cherrie; Conor O’Keeffe, Mayowa Animasahun, Vinnie Leonard, JR Wilson; Aodh Dervin, Shane Tracey (Harry Groome 68); Andy Paraschiv (Norman Garbett 68), Declan McDaid (Daryl Horgan 75), Gbemi Arubi (Dean Ebbe 84), Eoin Kenny.

Referee: Ryan Maher

Attendance: 1,432