Athlone IT qualify for colleges and universities soccer decider

ATHLONE IT knocked Letterkenny IT out of the Colleges & Universities' Football League semi-final last Wednesday night, and are now looking forward to next Tuesday's decider in Dublin. At McSharry Park in Sligo last midweek, two goals by David Kelly, and a penalty from Danielle Turano sent Mickey O'Connor's side into the decider against holders IT Carlow. Athlone were unfancied going into the semi-final having suffered a 4-0 reversal at the hands of the same opposition in the CFAI Cup the previous week. But AIT started the game looking like they meant business and this approach saw four players booked inside the first 25 minutes. Ciaran Gallagher in the Letterkenny goal had a difficult first half, and with 15 minutes gone, David Kelly latched onto Neil Harney's ball. Kelly held off two defenders to finish into the net. Gallagher again made a mistake five minutes later when he upended Enda Morris for a penalty. Danny Torano's shot had been half blocked, but Morris reacted first and was duly felled by Gallagher. Turano buried the penalty to put AIT into a commanding 2-0 lead.Oisín McMenamin beat Bernard Power following a good build-up by Letterkenny to reduce AIT's lead. Instantly though, a Turano forward pass split the shaky Letterkenny defence and Kelly raced through to finish emphatically. The drama was not over and Power made a superb penalty save from McMenamin. Enda Morris could have wrapped up proceedings on 82 minutes but his lob floated the wrong side of the post. The final whistle was greeted with great scenes of ecstasy by AIT players and supporters. This was AIT's third semi-final appearance - and second under the management of Michael O'Connor in three years. Holders IT Carlow will provide the opposition in the final. They will provide a stern test as they have a full soccer academy with 80 players at their disposal. Earlier this season, the two teams played out a 2-2 draw, but Carlow, who did the double last season,are on course for it again and will be favourites. AIT came through the group stages having accounted for NUI Galway, GMIT Galway and NUI Maynooth, in addition to the aforementioned draw with IT Carlow. AIT Sport & Recreation Manager, Gordon Brett said: "The final against IT Carlow is probably the biggest final the Institute has yet qualified for in any sport." Athlone IT take on IT Carlow in the final next Tuesday evening, February 28, at Frank Cooke Park (Tolka Rovers FC, Santry) at 7pm. Athlone IT (v Letterkenny): Bernard Power; James Furlong, Neil Harney, Kevin Dunne, Aidan Reilly, Adrian Torres, Flavio Squillante (James Morrissey 59), Stephen Relihan, Danielle Turano (Andrea Balestra) Enda Morris, David Kelly.