Athlone fail to nail down definite semi-final berth

Killucan powered their way to the top of the Westmeath SFC Division 1 with a comprehensive dismantling of Athlone at Hogan Park, Moate last Sunday evening. In doing so they grabbed the automatic semi-final spot ahead of Athlone who, for so long in this year's campaign looked to be heading for that berth themselves. Athlone's opening three victories in Division 1 looked to have set them well on their way to the semis and despite a surprise defeat to Coralstown-Kinnegad in the fourth game, they would still have had their sights firmly set on top spot last Sunday. But they were outplayed by a Killucan team in top form with Paul Greville putting on an outstanding display of score-taking and full-forward play. Athlone may have taken their eye off the ball, knowing that they had already qualified for the knockout stages, but they will certainly need to reproduce some of their early-season form if they are to have any hopes of advancing further. Killucan started brightly and held a two points to no score lead on seven minutes after wing-forwards Cormac Boyle and Rory O'Reilly both raised white flags. It took until the tenth minute for Athlone to get on the scoreboard but it was worth waiting for with Michael Greene firing over a fine score after John Connellan and Joe Fallon had done the spade-work. The equaliser arrived two minutes later when Greene found Fallon with a superb pass after which the corner-forward turned and pointed off the left. But Killucan responded in superb fashion and by the twentieth minute had opened up a four-point gap with Cormac Boyle, Conor Jordan (2) and Paul Greville all getting their names on the score-sheet. However, down the other end, Athlone got themselves right back into contention when Tom Stuart Trainor flicked a clever pass into the path of wing-forward Brian Fogarty. Fogarty had a clear run at goal and, coming in from the left, he finished perfectly to the near bottom corner, giving David Bryan no chance in the Killucan goal. It was just the boost Athlone needed having, so far, failed to get going. Conor Jordan managed to land a forty-five for Killucan before an accurate pass from Aidan St. John, on for the injured Damien Kelly, found Fallon who turned and scored under sever pressure from the Killucan backs. In the thirtieth minute a free apiece from corner-forwards Connellan and Fallon edged Athlone into the lead for the first time as it looked as though they had finally come alive. Tony Doyle then equalised for Killucan but in injury time, Athlone were to be hit by a goalkeeping error from Aidan O'Dea. There looked to be no danger when Killucan midfielder Padraig Leavy overhit his pass into Paul Greville. O'Dea collected the ball at his ease but somehow managed to leave it behind him when attempting to clear. Greville was the grateful recipient of the gift and he simply picked the ball up and placed it home to the now empty net - a huge boost for Killucan but a blow for Athlone as the two sides went in for half-time. Killucan started the second half as they did the first, with the two opening scores this time coming from Paul Greville and Brendan McKeogh. But again, Athlone's response was swift and deadly. Having won a free way out on the left wing on 41 minutes, John Connellan had the vision and speed of thought to pick out Dermot McManus who had made a run into the penalty area. And having gathered in possession, McManus then brushed aside the challenges of two Killucan defenders before taking his time and rifling the ball to the far corner of the net to reduce the deficit to two points. Two minutes later, the Killucan lead was down to the minimum when Joe Fallon pointed from a tight angle after some extremely hard work by 38th-minute substitute Dermot Bannon. But that was to be as close as Malachy Gately's men would get. Points from James Nugent and Paul Greville stretched the lead back out to three and, although Fallon pulled one back for Athlone with an expertly taken forty-five, Killucan would hit Athlone with four points in as many minutes to all but kill off the game as it entered its final ten minutes. Greville (2), Brian Smyth and Cormac Boyle were the scorers on this occasion. Aidan St. John tapped over what was nothing more than a consolation score with four minutes remaining but the final say belonged to Killucan as first Brian Smyth and then Paul Greville rounded off the day's scoring and complete an impressive seven-point victory over a disappointing Athlone. SCORERS Killucan: Paul Greville (1-6, two frees), Conor Jordan (0-3, one forty-five), Cormac Boyle (0-3, two frees), Brian Smyth (0-2), Tony Doyle (0-1), James Nugent (0-1), Rory O'Reilly (0-1), Brendan McKeogh (0-1). Athlone: Joe Fallon (0-5, one free, one forty-five), Dermot McManus (1-0), Brian Fogarty (1-0), Michael Greene (0-1), John Connellan (0-1, free). TEAMS Killucan: David Bryan; Johnny Greville, Frank Boyle, Stephen Morley; Christopher Leech, John Shaw, Tony Doyle; Padraig Leavy, Conor Jordan; Cormac Boyle, James Nugent, Rory O'Reilly; Shane Leavy, Paul Greville, Brendan McKeogh. Sub: Brian Smyth for J. Greville (37'). Athlone: Aidan O'Dea; David O'Neill, Gary Quinn, Fergal Murray; Noel Mulligan, Damien Kelly, Alan Kelly; Paul Bannon, Alan Gaughan; Dermot McManus, Michael Greene, Brian Fogarty; Joe Fallon, Tom Stuart Trainor, John Connellan. Subs: Aidan St. John for D. Kelly (26'), Dermot Bannon for T. Trainor (38'), Kevin Macken for A. Kelly (57').