Collopy error proves costly as unlucky Town lose out to Limerick
by Kevin O'Neill Updated: Wednesday, 20th July, 2011 5:30pm
Athlone Town 0 Limerick 1
A glaring mistake by home 'keeper Brian Collopy gifted promotion chasing Limerick a hardly deserved victory over impressive Athlone Town at Lissywollen last Saturday evening.
Collopy - a Limerick native and former player at the Munster club - failed to make a routine collection in the 70th minute, allowing the ball to skid on the greasy surface and bounce over his head. Limerick substitute Sean Brosnan took full advantage to steer the ball into an unguarded net, to give Pat Scully's expensively assembled side an undeserved victory.
Although Limerick included recent high profile signings Denis Behan, Joe Gamble and Shaun Maher in their starting team, Athlone went toe to toe with them throughout.
An entertaining and competitive affair was played out between the sides, though goalscoring chances were at a premium during the 90 minutes.
In the end, Collopy's costly mistake settled the outcome, and left Athlone feeling frustrated and hard done-by at the final whistle.
Athlone, who came into the game on the back of two wins, and a renewed sense of confidence, were terrific throughout, as they maintained a high-energy, pressing game for the majority of the contest.
With eight Limerick natives in Athlone's match-day squad, it was always going to be a feisty and well-contested match, as Athlone set out to prove they've made notable improvements over recent weeks. To this end, Athlone didn't let themselves down, and they can take huge positives from their performance.
Perhaps with a touch more precision in the attacking third, and without Collopy's disappointing error, they could even have beaten the visitors.
Such a scenario would've seemed totally unlikely in the earlier stages of the campaign, so Athlone can still be buoyed by their ability to meet the challenge of big-spending Limerick head-on.
Davy Ryan was unavailable for selection for Athlone, so Mike Kerley made just one change from the side that beat Mervue Utd, with Stephen Relihan coming into the midfield. Attackers Mark Sherlock and Gary Higgins also returned to the squad and gave Kerley more options on the bench.
Former Athlone defender Brian McCarthy lost his place in Limerick's starting eleven, being replaced by Shaun Maher. However, McCarthy would replace the injured Maher in the 38th minute, and contribute to a solid defensive performance by Limerick.
Athlone made their intentions clear from the first whistle, allowing Limerick little time in possession, and putting together some intricate passing moves of their own.
Ex-Limerick attacker Jason Hughes was central to Athlone's positive performance, and certainly looked like a man keen to prove Pat Scully wrong for allowing him to leave the Treaty City club last season.
Hughes's fellow Limerick-man, Wayne Colbert, was also outstanding for Athlone on the night. Though sometimes limited in possession, Colbert's attitude, work-rate and will to win is second to none, and he did his upmost to drag Athlone back into the game following Collopy's mistake.
Relihan drove at the Limerick defence in the second minute, but his cross was well claimed by visiting 'keeper Barry Ryan. Jeffrey Judge then worked a similarly encouraging position for Limerick, but his deep cross was disappointing. Good play by Noel McGee and Conor Kavanagh released Kevin Williamson down the left, but his low centre was mopped-up by outstanding Limerick captain Pat Purcell.
On four minutes, McGee showed quick feet to step away from a couple of Limerick defenders, but his well-struck drive was always going wide.
Moments later, impressive Athlone defender Paul Danaher did well to prevent Garbhan Coughlan latching onto Behan's flick.
Limerick striker Coughlan then blasted wide under pressure from Danaher, before the same Athlone defender made a superb tackle to deny Paudie Quinn.
Danaher's defensive partner, Mark Walsh, did likewise on 17 minutes, timing his tackle to perfection to halt Quinn's run towards the danger area.
Limerick had slowly found a way into the game and were enjoying their best attacking period.
A great low cross by Judge missed everybody and drifted out of play on the far side - much to Athlone's relief. Purcell then picked out Corie Treacy on the right flank (where Limerick's best attacks were developing), and Treacy's cross almost drifted into the net at the back post. Again, Athlone were relieved to see the ball miss the target and drift wide.
Limerick won the game's first corner on 26 minutes, but it came to nothing, and two minutes later Athlone almost opened the scoring from their first corner. Williamson's far post delivery was met by Walsh, but the Nenagh-based defender put his close range header over the crossbar.
Joe Gamble was booked on 32 minutes for a poor tackle on Hughes, while Behan was lucky to escape unpunished for scything down Walsh. Maher limped off injured for Limerick in the 38th minute, and three minutes later Athlone's Walsh was also forced off. Tommy Barrett was introduced in Walsh's place, with the ex-Nenagh Celtic man clearly struggling after Behan's hefty tackle.
Coughlan, the visitors' liveliest player in the opening half, had Limerick's best chance before the break, but dragged his shot wide, while Barrett headed over for Athlone, as the Town went in at the interval encouraged by their first half efforts.
Athlone again showed up very well in the second half. Colbert set the tone early on, driving at the heart of Limerick's defence and setting up McGee, but his shot was deflected wide.
Williamson was showing some neat touches on Athlone's left flank, while Hughes remained a constant thorn in Limerick's side. However, the visitors sturdy defence managed to keep Athlone at arm's length.
McGee was shown a harsh yellow card on 56 minutes, while Gamble was hugely fortunate to stay on the pitch. The former Cork City and Hartlepool Utd midfielder committed several fouls following his first half booking, and was lucky to stay on the pitch on his Limerick debut.
Danaher continued to shine in Athlone's defence, while Behan was disappointing in attack for the visitors.
Limerick forced a couple of corners, which Athlone dealt with comfortably, before Collopy's error in the 70th minute.
The 20-year-old Athlone netminder, preferred in recent weeks to Micheál Schlingermann, had a couple of nervy moments before the goal, when he completely misjudged a bouncing ball, allowing Brosnan to capitalise and guide the ball home from close range. It was a moment to forget for Collopy, and a harsh experience for the young 'keeper.
Athlone threw on Sherlock and Higgins, but couldn't break down Limerick's solid rearguard. The Town forced a late corner, which led to slight panic in Limerick's box, but the visitors eventually cleared their lines.
Collopy saved from Behan late on, but the damage had already been done, and Athlone were undeservedly left with no points to show for a really good performance.
ATHLONE TOWN: Brian Collopy; Declan Fallon, Jamie Carr, Mark Walsh, Paul Danaher, Wayne Colbert, Conor Kavanagh, Stephen Relihan, Jason Hughes, Noel McGee, Kevin Williamson. Subs: Tommy Barrett for Walsh (41 mins), Mark Sherlock for McGee (68), Gary Higgins for Relihan (76).
LIMERICK: Barry Ryan; Corie Treacy, John Frost, Pat Purcell, Shaun Maher, Joe Gamble, Jeffrey Judge, Thomas Lyons, Paudie Quinn, Denis Behan, Garbhan Coughlan. Subs: Brian McCarthy for Maher (38 mins), Sean Brosnan for Coughlan (54), David O'Leary for Lyons (68).
REFEREE: Kevin O'Regan.
