Battling Joseph's earn share of the spoils with AC Celtic

A spirited performance from St. Joseph's saw them eke out a satisfactory point away to AC Celtic at Athlone Institute of Technology last Saturday afternoon. With AC looking much the stronger side for the majority of the first half, it looked as though Tom Shevlane's 17th-minute strike would have been enough to see AC push on for an easy win. But surprisingly, and against the run of play, St. Joseph's managed to find the net just before half-time and that's how it stayed for the remainder of the game, despite both sides going mighty close to taking all three points in the second half. The game began with AC in control with Mark Duffy in particular looking lively down the left wing. On six minutes the winger took the ball past full-back Eoin Hannon before pulling back to Tom Shevlane. But Shevlane's touch was too heavy and the chance was lost. The combination of Duffy and Shevlane would have more luck later on. With eight minutes on the clock, a clever little reverse ball from Darragh McCormack released Liam Flowers whose mishit cross nearly sneaked in at the back post. AC continued to dominate the early stages with Joseph's, when they did get on the ball, looking to break quickly through Conor McAlary on the left wing and Damola Akinfaye up front. But on 17 minutes, the home side's domination paid off. Some stellar work once more from Mark Duffy down the left wing saw him ride couple of St. Joseph's challenges before the ball eventually broke to Shevlane on the edge of the penalty area. The midfielder set himself up with his first touch before rifling the ball past Ronan McAlary in the St. Joseph's goal - a deserved lead for the home side. On 23 minutes, a great run from St. Joseph's Dylan Coleman saw him brought down on the edge of the AC box but Peter Ryan's resulting free-kick was blocked by the wall and the chance had gone. Towards the end of the first half, St. Joseph's were exerting a lot of pressure on the AC goal. But still they hadn't threatened with any meaningful shots or chances aside from Ryan striking another free-kick over the bar in the 29th minute. Then, three minutes before the break, Joes got the break they needed. There looked to be little danger when a hopeful ball was swung in from the right. Conor McAlary jumped for the ball but instead it was right-full Shane Galvin who got his head to the ball only to see it loop back over his goalkeeper and into his own net. An unlucky break for Galvin but a timely one for St. Joseph's just before the break. A huge shower of rain greeted the players at the start of the second half and that seemed to take the edge out of the play for the beginning of the second half at least. It took until the 45th minute for the first attempt on goal to arrive - a shot from distance from AC's Mark Duffy that flew wide of the post. Thereafter, once the rain had cleared, things began to liven up once more. After Damola Akinfaye was brought down on the edge of the AC box, half-time substitute Stephen Alayamdi rolled the ball back to Akinfaye who brought a fingertip save out of Adam Cobban. By the 59th minute the deadlock still showed no sign of being broken. Tom Shevlane was played through by a chipped pass from Sam Herraghty but Dylan Coleman, now playing in goal after Ronan McAlary had been taken off, sprinted from his line to avert the danger. With four minutes remaining both sides had chances to steal the points. After an AC corner was swung in from the right, an almighty goalmouth scramble ensued during which AC had numerous attempts on goal. Eventually Coleman gathered in possession and launched the ball up field to where Akinfaye was left one on one with an AC defender. Akinfaye twisted and turned before making space for himself and firing for the top corner. But the ball flew inches wide of the mark and AC had survived their late scare. There was still time for one more chance down the other end. There looked to be no danger when Coleman came from his line to collect a loose ball. But some how he lost control of it with Sam Herraghty latching on to it to seemingly tap into an empty goal. But his shot was week and this allowed Brandon Ryan to get back and clear the ball off the line - a dramatic intervention to keep the score level and ensure that St. Joseph's brought a share of the spoils back home with them. AC CELTIC: Adam Cobban, Shane Galvin, Jamie O'Keeffe, Alex Molloy, Oisin Rowe, Tom Shevlane, Cody McLoughlin, Mark Duffy, Liam Flowers, Sam Herraghty, Darragh McCormack. SUBS: Dean Tobin for D. McCormack (49'). ST. JOSEPH'S: Ronan McAlary, Eoin Hannon, Mark Singleton, Peter Ryan, Cathal Shiels, Cian Teague, Dylan Coleman, Johnny Murray, Dylan Earl, Damola Akinfaye, Conor McAlary. SUBS: Stephen Alayamdi for R. McAlary (HT), Brandon Ryan for M. Singleton (HT), Farouk Ameru for J. Murray (57'), Sean Kenny for D. Earl (60'), Aidan Tumulty for E. Hannon (64').