Athlone Town seal League of Ireland title for second time

March 27 is a memorable date in Athlone football  history as it was on this day, 37 years ago, that Athlone Town won their second League of Ireland Premier Division title.
Athlone Town overcame Waterford United in St Mel’s Park on March 27, 1983 - on what was a Sunday- to seal the League Championship.
The Town, under manager Turlough O’Connor, who had also guided them to their first league title in 1980/81, had put themselves in pole position for the league with three superb victories in a week.
On Sunday, March 13, Athlone defeated Bohemians 3-1, in St Mel’s Park before beating Galway United 4-1 in a refixed match played on St Patrick’s Day in Athlone. The third victory in a week was achieved away to Home Farm (4-1) on Sunday, March 20.
The brilliant run meant Athlone needed only a point at home to Waterford on March 27 to be crowned champions.
The league trophy was not actually presented until a few weeks later, after the final game of the season, at home to Shamrock Rovers.

Here’s a little video of the championship-winning game on Sunday, March 27.

 

Video from Youtube, RTE's Monday Night Soccer.

The Westmeath Independent reported on the victory with a front-page story that describe the scenes after the final whistle.
“Quiet, courteous and self-effacing, Manager Turlough O'Connor made his way slowly back to the dressingroom after the game to be greeted by the players rendering of "We are Europe bound." 
Defender Tom Conway said: "This is something special. When we last won the League, it was nothing like this." Smiling and satisfied, Tom pointed out "we showed the critics that we had the talent and spirit to beat everything else out of sight. " Seven well-picked words tumbled from the lips of the man who was responsible for it all. Turlough O’Connnr - "Second time round is twice as sweet."

The front page story from the Westmeath Independent in 1983

A full enthusiastic match report inside remarked how the home side had produced “a bubbling festival of flowing football”
“Just about everything went right for the midlanders. The players hit on a rich vein one-touch football and banged in four super goals to crown a memorable achievement.
The crucial opener on 23 minutes when full-back Tom Conway crossed from the left and Eddie Byrne found himself with space and fresh air in which to rise and head powerfully to net.
The game was sealed in a two-minute spell just after the half-hour mark. A free on the left from
Michael O'Connor was placed into the path of a thundering run from Padraig O’Connor fired into the bottom corner of the Waterford net.

Just over a minute later, Michael O'Connor wriggled his way from midfield through the Waterford defence and picked his spot cooly.
O’Connor was the creator of the final goal on 57 minutes, teasing the Waterford defence before screwing the ball back for Larry Wyse to stoop to head into the corner of the net.
The Athlone Town team on that occasion was:
Athlone Town: Grace, Feniuk, McCue, P. O'Connor, Conway, Meagan, Wyse, Byrne, Murray, Larkin, M. O'Connor. Sub: Carroll for Conway (85 mins.).

Our match report for the historic game on Sunday, March 27, 1983