Skelly and Scullion see red as Town slump to defeat

Airtricity League First Division SD Galway 3 Athlone Town 0 A red mist descended on Eamonn Deacy Park last Friday night as SD Galway recorded a first ever win over nine man Athlone Town. The visitors contributed to their own downfall as firstly Sean Skelly was sent off on 21 minutes with Niall Scullion following midway through the second half on a night best forgotten by the Town. After a scoreless opening half SD Galway opened the scoring early in the second half and, following Scullion's dismissal, they made it two. Michael Harty completed the rout with a simple tap in late on. Athlone's luck was out even before a ball was kicked as Damien Rushe aggravated a calf injury in the warm-up and had to be replaced by Eric Molloy with Scullion slotting in to the vacant right-back slot from his intended position on the left of midfield. Molloy earned the first corner kick of the game on 10 minutes with Harty having the first chance for the home side soon afterwards. Mark McGoldrick then had a shot on the turn saved by the goalkeeper but Athlone were rocked when Skelly was sent for an early shower following an off-the-ball incident on 21 minutes. The referees attention was sought by his assistant Trevor Conlon, who had spotted the Athlone number nine raise his arms following a tussle with a home player and the offence was deemed serious enough to warrant a straight red card. In spite of having a man less, Athlone created the better chances before the half-time whistle blew. After 25 minutes the in-rushing Mark Walsh was off target with a header following a McGoldrick free kick, while Scullion drilled a low shot from the right across the home goalmouth as Athlone looked to break the deadlock. Molloy sent a free kick at the keeper but a moment of inspiration from McGoldrick a minute before the break deserved better reward. Barry O'Mahony passed to the former Sligo Rovers man and, seriously outnumbered by the home defence, he improvised to try his luck with a strike from long range which just cleared the crossbar. There was still time for the visitors to create another chance with James Keane getting down smartly at his near post to divert a Molloy shot behind and the action ended when Molloy volleyed over after a corner had been half cleared. Ten man Athlone restarted brightly, forcing a corner kick inside the opening minute of the second half, and O'Mahony then firing wide as the visitors looked to make the breakthrough. However, after 50 minutes, SD Galway took a shock lead when Eugene Greaney volleyed to the roof of the net with a fantastic strike from midway inside the Athlone half on the left. The goal prompted Town boss Mike Kerley into making a double substitution as Mark Sherlock and Noel McGee joined the action in place of Molloy and O'Mahony. While Brian Gaffney wasted a good chance to double the home advantage after 56 minutes, it was Athlone that looked more likely to score next as the half progressed. Another Town substitute Neil Harney sent in a good delivery from a corner which flew invitingly across the goalmouth. But, midway through the half, a difficult task was made almost impossible as Scullion was sent off in a controversial decision. Joe Woods looked to be fouled as he advanced from defence but the appeals went unheeded and the home side made the most of the lucky break. As new signing Jakub Tomanica took advantage of the confusion to head goalwards, he was taken down by Scullion, who was adjudged to be the last man back - although McCarthy was also in close proximity - thereby getting a red card for the offence. The Athlone defender has only returned from suspension and now faces a further spell on the sidelines. More salt was rubbed into the wound when Gaffney drilled the direct free kick from the edge of the penalty area to the net past a static Pat Jennings and suddenly the home side were on their way to only their third victory of the season. Athlone tried hard against all the odds to retrieve something from the game and Sherlock wasted a great opportunity to reduce the deficit after 75 minutes when he shot wide as the keeper advanced following a neat pass from McGee. The game ended as a contest however with eight minutes remaining as Harty slotted home against his former club from close range following a Gaffney left wing cross. There was still time for the visitors to grab a consolation score but on a luckless night in the west for the Town, Harney's shot from the right grazed the crossbar after the keeper had allowed the ball through his hands as SD Galway created history with a first win over Athlone. It was the first time Tony Mannion's team had kept a clean sheet in 2012, and also the first time they managed to beat a side other than local rivals Mervue this season. SD Galway: James Keane, Colm Horgan, Eugene Greaney, Paddy Quinlan, Cian Fadden, Willie Enubele (Timmy Molloy, 80 mins), Ronan Conlon, Michael Harty (Luke McConnell, 86), Brian Geraghty (Damien O'Reilly, 78), Jakub Tomanica, Brian Gaffney. Athlone Town: Pat Jennings, Kevin Williamson, Brian McCarthy, Joe Woods, Barry O'Mahony (Noel McGee, 54 mins), Shane Dunne, Mark Walsh (Neil Harney, 61), Sean Skelly, Mark McGoldrick, Niall Scullion, Eric Molloy (Mark Sherlock, 54). Referee: Robert Harvey (Dublin).