Athlone 1-5
Moate All Whites 1-9
A disappointing display saw Athlone succumb to local rivals Moate All Whites in their division one round four game played on the Davey Allen pitch in Páirc Chiaráin on Friday night.
Despite missing several regulars through illness and injury, Athlone will still rue what was a flat performance, especially in the second half when the match was still there to be won.
The concession of a soft early goal meant that the home side were always chasing the game in the first half, but they kept in touch through three excellent scores from the lively Kian Mitchell and a fine long range free from Kieran Colclough to trail by just two points at the break, 0-4 to 1-3.
A Moate point shortly after the resumption was the only score of the third quarter, as Athlone enjoyed plenty of possession but struggled to create scoring chances, although they did come close to an equalising goal when a powerful effort from Mark Egan was superbly saved by the opposition keeper.
Gradually, however, the visitors re-established control and added three further points before Kian Mitchell finally opened his side’s account for the second period with just five minutes remaining, although Moate responded almost immediately to restore their six point advantage.
Athlone then threw themselves a lifeline with a scrambled goal from Mitchell, but Moate secured possession from the subsequent kickout and worked the ball upfield for the insurance score as they ran out deserved winners by 1-9 to 1-5.
Athlone: Darren Costello, Paddy Ryan, James Finlass, Dylan Rushe, Noel Mulligan, Diarmuid Martin, Luke O’Connell, Michael Byrne, Danny Reid, Sean Dowd, Stephen Flaherty, Kieran Colclough (0-1 ), Johnny Martin, Matt Scally, Kian Mitchell (1-4 ) Subs Used: Mark Egan, Luke Whelan, Conor Murray, Niall Doolan.
