Athlone Town record rare away win over Finn Harps

Athlone Town laid to rest their Donegal bogey when they recorded a rare win at Ballybofey over Finn Harps last Saturday night. Stephen Relihan had given the Town a half-time lead and although Kevin McHugh grabbed an equaliser early in the second half, Brian McCarthy struck for the winner just after the hour mark to lift Athlone up to joint fourth position on the league table after ten games played. The three points gained stretches the Town's advantage over Harps to four points, with a home game against struggling Mervue United next on the agenda this Friday night (7.45). For the long journey to the north west, Athlone were missing the suspended Mark Sherlock while Mark Walsh and Paul Danaher were both injured which lead to a reshuffle in the defence. Ross Kenny resumed as full-back and Tommy Barrett stepped up from the bench to partner McCarthy at the heart of the defence, as Athlone showed four changes to the side beaten by Longford. In midfield there was a welcome return for two Town favourites as Damien Rushe and Stephen Relihan both made their first starts in 2012. With a winless record stretching back almost 20 years in Finn Park, Athlone's early play gave no indication that the barren spell was about to end. The home side were no better and a Shane McGinty shot which Pat Jennings, stretching backwards, tipped over after 19 minutes was the first time either goalkeeper had been tested. Rushe also had a chance to celebrate a rare start but wasted the chance after Noel McGee had created the opening with a clever through ball. With so little goalmouth action up to this point it was somewhat of a surprise then when the Town took the lead 10 minutes later following the awarding of a controversial corner kick. McCarthy's header from a Garvan Broughall free kick was adjudged to have been touched last by a home player and Harps were made to suffer further heartache from the resulting corner kick. The home defence failed to clear Broughall's delivery from the flag pole and Relihan was on hand to stab the ball home from close range. The goal settled Athlone's nerves and the lead was maintained until half-time as Harps failed to sparkle in front of the target. However, within a minute of the opener, the home side could have been back on level terms when substitute Blain Curtis raced clear but, with only the keeper to beat, crashed his shot off the upright and wide. It proved to be Harps' only chance of grabbing an equaliser as a low key opening half ended with Athlone still holding onto a narrow lead. Rushe and Relihan were anchoring midfield and although Noel McGee had few chances to sparkle in attack nevertheless the Town skipper was still a danger to the home defence. Relihan had a good chance to record a second goal two minutes after the restart but was denied by Rory Kelly, who pulled off a great save to thwart the returning midfielder as Athlone looked to seal victory. Instead, the next score fell to the home side as captain McHugh lead by example. The ace marksman, with an impressive goalscoring record, was on hand to level matters after 50 minutes. The striker gained possession as central defenders McCarthy and Barrett got into a tangle and showed some cool finishing when he slotted to the net past a helpless Jennings. Brian Gill picked up a yellow card soon after but it was the only time the visitors lost their discipline in a mature performance. While a draw would not have been a bad result, Athlone struck for all three points with the winner arriving after 62 minutes. Again, Harps failed to defend properly from a corner kick and were punished as McCarthy made up for his earlier error. This time there was no doubt about the legality of the corner kick and once more Broughall's delivery picked out a Town player as McCarthy's downward header crept over the line much to the disgust of the home defence. It was another scrappy goal to concede but Athlone won't complain as they reflect afterwards on a job well done. Town manager Mike Kerley used the rest of the game to give his three substitutes a run out as Darren Coleman, Sean Guerins and Kevin Williamson all joined the action before the finish. Harps has just one further chance to grab an equaliser but Shaun McGowan fired narrowly wide of the post in a crowded penalty area following a throw-in with 20 minutes remaining. The Athlone defence remained solid until the final whistle as Harps never seriously looked like again getting back on level terms and avoid a third straight defeat. Although both Athlone goals were of the scrappy variety and the game itself was far from being a classic, the win was the most important element to reflect on and manager Kerley can be well pleased with the satisfactory outcome. Finn Harps: Rory Kelly, Thomas McMonagle, Ciaran Greene, Tommy Bonner, Aaron O'Hagan, Shaun McGowan, Shane McGinty, Ciaran Coll (Paul Treacy, 70 mins), Hugh Carlin (Blain Curtis, 10), Gary Merritt, Kevin McHugh. Athlone Town: Pat Jennings, Niall Scullion, Ross Kenny, Tommy Barrett, Brian McCarthy, Damien Rushe (Darren Coleman, 72 mins), Jason Hughes, Brian Gill (Kevin Williamson, 85), Garvan Broughall, Stephen Relihan, Noel McGee (Sean Guerins, 76). Referee: Conor Fitzgerald (Dublin).