AIT push Wicklow all the way to extra time

Athlone IT matched their Wicklow opponents stride for stride throughout Sunday's O'Byrne Shield game at Baltinglass but then imploded in the first period of extra time. Their efforts saw them lead for a long period, following corner-forward Danny McGovern's first half goal. The sides were level a number of times in the second half, and then AIT's star wing-back Levi Murphy fired over a late equaliser deep in injury time. But what had been a tight match up to this point went belly up for the students in the first period of additional time. Paul McGee was introduced as a fresh pair of legs for Athlone for the 20 minutes extra, but he barely had time to warm into the position before he received a red card from referee Ronald Malone after he had consulted with his umpires. Down to 14 men for the defining period of the match was a huge handicap for the midlanders but worse was to follow if that was possible. With their numerical strength Wicklow stormed into to the attack, the ball was fed to Tony Hannon who was hand-tripped as he bore down on the Athlone goal with menacing intent. Referee Malone pointed to the spot and Hannon made the visitors pay a huge price for their indiscretion by blasting the spotkick to the roof of the net, with Westmeath county goalie Gary Connaughton diving the wrong way. The students were reeling but Wicklow were rocking and rolling row. They dominated the first period of extra time and a second goal by Paul Cronin before the break put them into an unassailable lead of 2-13 to 1-9. Match over. With nine of their players from county team squads, Athlone did not make the journey to Baltinglass just to admire the scenery. After going close to beating Longford in the O'Byrne Cup proper the previous week, they were keen to build on that momentum. They drew first blood with the opening point by Offaly's Anton Sullivan, were level with their opponents after 12 minutes after Eugene Clarke had pointed a free to cancel out two Wicklow scores by Dara O'Sullivan and Nicky Mernagh. At the end of the first quarter, Danny McGovern blasted to the net to restore Athlone IT to the front and they would feel they were more than a shade unlucky not to grab at least another goal in the first half, one attempt rebounding off the goalpost. Still, Eugene Clarke, Thomas Rahill and company kept asking questions of the home side with further scores and they held that lead to half-time, retiring 1-4 to 0-5 ahead at the break. Wicklow switched Rory Finn from full-back to centre-back in a swap with Niall Gaffney and both men played 'stormers' in their new positions. Six minutes into the second half and Wicklow were back on level terms following points by Paddy Dalton and Nicky Mernagh. Joey Kelly edged the home side ahead minutes later, but Tom Rahill restored parity by pointing on 48 minutes. Wicklow were picking up the greater share of yellow cards in this half. Frank Burke nudged the students back in front but Rory Finn had the sides level for a third time in the second half. Wicklow raided their bench for fresh legs as Eugene Clarke and Cavan's Levi Murphy put Athlone two points to the good. Substitute Conor McGraynor and Nicky Mernagh responded for the home side, who led by a single point, 0-12 to 1-8, deep in injury time. Still, the referee played on and in 39th minute of the half - incidentally the first half ended two minutes before time - Levi Murphy landed the equaliser that brought this game to extra time. Things now went horribly wrong for the students. Moments after being introduced, Paul McGee was heading back to the bench on the back of a straight red card. The clouds got even darker minutes later as they conceded a penalty for a trip on Tony Hannon who exacted full retribution when he drilled the spotkick to the roof of the net. Wicklow were on cloud nine and motoring in the first period of extra time. The students were shell-shocked. Before the end of the first period of extra time, Paul Cronin blasted to the net for a second Wicklow goal, having been fed the ball by Conor McGraynor following a long delivery by Rory Finn from a free. Tony Hannon added a point and Wicklow were clearly in the driving seat, leading 2-13 to 1-9. Athlone IT had failed to score in the first period of extra-time. Indeed, they scored only once throughout the two periods of extra-time, with a late, late point from Danny McGovern. By then Wicklow were thinking about next weekend's semi-final match away to neighbours Wexford. Scorers - Wicklow: Paul Cronin (1-2), Tony Hannon (1-1), Nicky Mernagh (0-4), Rory Finn (0-3), James Stafford, Paddy Dalton, Conor McGraynor, Seanie Furlong, Dara O'Sullivan, Joey Kelly 0-1 each. Athlone IT: Danny McGovern (1-1), Eugene Clarke (0-3, 3 frees), Tom Rahill (0-2), Levi Murphy (0-2), Frank Burke, Anton Sullivan 0-1 each. Wicklow: J. Flynn; R. Lambert, R. Finn, P. Higgins; B. Murphy, N. Gaffney, S. Mann; J. Stafford, A. Merriman; N. Mernagh, P. Dalton, D. O'Sullivan; P. Cronin, M. Doyle, L. Glynn. Subs: J. Kelly for L. Glynn, T. Hannon for D. O'Sullivan, P. Burke for M. Doyle, C. Rossiter for P. Higgins, C. McGraynor for P. Dalton, B. Cullen for N. Mernagh, P. Byrne for P. Cronin, S. Furlong for J. Stafford. Athlone IT: G. Connaughton; R. Dunne, C. Duignan, D. Maleady; A. Rowan, M. McCallon, L. Murphy; D. Cash, A. Caul; E. Clarke, P. Masterson, T. Rahill; D. McGovern, F. Burke, A. O'Sullivan. Subs: D. Egan, J. Dolan for E. Clarke, P. McGee for M. McCallon. Referee: R. Malone (Dublin).