Late Eoghan Goal Sees Bohs Come Out On Top Friendly

Bohemian F.C. 1
Athlone Town 0

Dalymount Park

Athlone Town were unlucky in defeat last Thursday night as they fell on the wrong side of a 1-0 score-line away to Premier Division champions Bohemians in their second friendly of the pre-season. At a wet and windy Dalymount Park, substitute Eoghan O’Shea was the unfortunate player who diverted striker Paddy Madden’s shot goal-ward past the helpless Micháel Slingerman in the 83rd minute. While Bohs’ superiority was clear to see, Athlone battled well, defended capably and were unlucky in attack on a few occasions and will be disappointed not to have grabbed at least a draw, such was their display.

In a typical stop-start pre-season friendly, Bohs enjoyed large spells of possession in the opening stages and captain Paul Keegan was the first to register a shot at goal after a Des Hope headed clearance, but his right footed strike sailed harmlessly over the bar in the 5th minute.

Trialist goalkeeper Slingerman was then forced into action on the quarter- hour mark when he acrobatically tipped a Paddy Madden header over the bar as Bohs upped the pressure.

Bohs’ were impressive in the wide areas with Killian Brennan and Mark Quigley getting on the ball often but ex-Bohs player Mark Nolan was on form to keep Brennan’s involvement as limited as possible with a number of good tackles out on the right-hand touchline.

Keegan had another chance for the Dublin based outfit with the half time whistle fast approaching but his attempt came to a similar outcome to his first strike, with the ball fizzing over the frame of the goal.

Athlone made a number of changes at half time including the introduction of Kevin Dunne and Tom O’Halloran with the latter in particular looking sharp ahead of the new season. O’Halloran got a lot of room, and indeed a lot of the ball in wide areas and showed no hesitation in running at Owen Heary and causing the experienced right-full more than one or two problems with a string of silky touches and flicks.

Madden continued to get into dangerous areas in the Athlone penalty area but he found Dunne in his way blocking two of his efforts at goal in both the 51st and 53rd minute.

Aaron Greene then had a chance for the home side in the 65th minute when he played a neat one-two with Madden on the edge of the box but Slingerman was quick off his line to deny the substitute.

Athlone went close themselves shortly after when O’Halloran’s drilled cross was just about cleared away from the 6 yard box with substitute Robbie Farrell hovering. Niall Scullion then saw his left-footed shot curl just past the ‘keeper’s right hand post minutes later.

Bohs finally broke the deadlock with just 7 minutes remaining as O’Shea saw the ball cannon off his foot and past his keeper after good work from Gary Burke and Madden down the left flank.

Athlone then were just a whisker away from levelling the match with virtually the last kick of the game when Farrell pounced on a mix-up in the home defence but his left-footed snatch shot found only the side-netting.

Although a defeat, Athlone can take plenty of positives out of this game with notable performances being put in by O’Halloran, Slingerman, Des Hope and O’Hanlon.

Athlone Town
Michael Slingerman
Mark Nolan (Garvan Broughall, 68 mins.)
Shane O’Connell (Eoghan O’Shea, 45 mins.)
Stephen Caffrey
Des Hope (Barry Burke, 78 mins.)
Alan Keely (Kevin Dunne, 45 mins.)
Richie O’Hanlon (Niall Scullion 59 mins.)
Mark O’Brien (Stephen Place, 59 mins.)
Shane Dolan (Robbie Farrell, 45 mins.)
Peter Darcy (James O’Sullivan, 45 mins.)
Austin Skelly (Tom O’Halloran, 45 mins.)

Bohemian FC
Barry Murphy (Chris O’Connor, 45 mins.)
Owen Heary
Mark Rossiter (Aaron Greene, 45 mins.)
Brian Shelley
Ken Oman (Conor Powell, 68 mins.)
Stephen Gray (Jason McGuinness, 68 mins.)
Mark Quigley (Gary Burke, 75 mins.)
Paul Keegan
Gareth McGlynn (Anto Murphy, 45 mins.)
Paddy Madden
Killian Brennan

Referee: Derek Tomney