Shels Down 10 Man Town
Saturday 24th Deptember 2011. AIrtricity League Division 1
Athlone Town 0-2 Shelbourne.
A unmarked header inside the opening 5 minutes, and another inside the closing 5 minutes, gave Shelbourne a 2-0 win over Athlone on Saturday night to maintain their course at the top of Division 1.
With Shels having a by far bigger and more physical side Town were always going to be under pressure, and preperations were dealt a blow as early as the warm up when Mark Walsh, experiencing vision problems, had to withdraw fom the line up.
In the opening minutes, Conan Byrne popped up score an unchallenged header from Brendan McGills cross to add to Towns woes, but despite the visitors having the lions share of possession the home side held on for the rest of the half to ensure no more goals passed.
Things got worse for Athlone in the second half when referee Jim McKell bizarrly sent off Town centre half Paul Danaher after his challenge saw the ball smack Kevin Dawson in the face face. Neither the Shels player, nor physio who was called on to the pitch, could tell what the straight red was for as Danaher received his marching orders.
Down to 10 men, Athlone introduced Mark Sherlock to the attack to give more striking options. However although causing problems for the Shelbourne defence, it proved too little too late as with less than 5 minutes to go Shels took advantage of the extra man to double their advantage when Philly Hughes sent a looping header over everyone and inside the side netting of the goal.
Click Here For More Photos From Athlone Town v Shelbourne
Stephen Relihan in an ariel challange with Shels captain David Cassidy
AC Sports Images 