Athlone's winning run ended as Tyrrellspass goals prove decisive

An inability to convert possession into scores saw Athlone suffer their first defeat of this year's senior championship as Tyrrellspass maintained their 100 per cent record at Hogan Park, Moate, last Sunday evening. Having defeated St Loman's and St Malachy's in their opening two games, Tyrrellspass are on top of the Division 1B table. For their part, Athlone lie in second place with four points, and are still well placed to qualify for the knockout stages. Athlone had enough of the ball to at least gain a draw from this game - they had ten wides compared to just two for Tyrrellspass - but they struggled to put scores on the board. With Martin Flanagan absent from the Tyrrellspass line-up and Denis Glennon held scoreless, the Athlone camp will probably be disappointed that they didn't seize the opportunity to defeat Laz Molloy's side. This was the second helping of a double-header, with Mullingar Shamrocks edging out county champions Castledaly by a single point in the opener. There was a good crowd in attendance at the well prepared Moate venue, and the weather was fine as the second game got underway. Athlone were without the services of Joe Fallon (honeymoon), but another former Westmeath star, Rory O'Connell, started his first championship match of the season. Two points from close range frees by John Connellan gave Athlone a 0-2 to 0-0 lead inside the first five minutes. In what was only their second meaningful attack, Tyrrellspass gave themselves a considerable boost with a goal against the run of play. Athlone goalie Richie Daly and midfielder James Tobin were unable to cleanly gather a Denis Glennon free from the left, allowing Tyrrellspass No 8 Tim O'Regan to palm the ball to the net. In the 13th minute, John Connellan scored his third free, after a foul on Tom Stuart-Trainor. Connellan then turned provider, finding Paul Bannon from a lineball, and the midfielder swept over a superb point. However, that 14th-minute score proved Athlone's last of the first half. In the space of the next five minutes, a previously subdued Tyrrellspass moved up a gear and scored 1-3 to turn the game on its head. Athlone had looked more fired up for the game and they were relishing the physical exchanges, but their use of the ball was letting them down. After a hard but fair shoulder challenge from Gary Quinn dispossessed Denis Glennon, Tyrrellspass quickly won the ball back and Glennon set up Philip Sheridan for a 15th minute point. Then an almighty scramble in the Athlone goalmouth eventually saw Tyrrellspass full-forward Ger O'Toole force the ball into the net, but referee Barry Kelly had already signalled a penalty for a foot-block. David Glennon's 17th-minute penalty was well struck into the corner of the net. Athlone continued to gave the ball away cheaply and a wayward pass from James Tobin came to Denis Glennon, who set up Ray Sheeran for a point. A minute later, Sheeran hit a measured pass inside to Ger O'Toole and the youngster extended his side's lead to five points. Brendan Clarke's charges almost hit back with a goal when a well-worked move presented James Tobin with a half chance. Tobin's shot was well struck but Tyrrellspass 'keeper Darren Quinn made a good save at his near post. Tyrrellspass corner-back Terence O'Brien was having an intriguing battle with John Connellan, with O'Brien denying Connellan a possible score on one occasion with a tremendous block. In the second half, though, the Athlone attacker would very much gain the upper-hand in this duel. Athlone moved James Tobin into full-forward but, despite enjoying plenty of possession in the last ten minutes of the first half, they couldn't add to their tally. Their best chance towards the end of the half fell to Tom Stuart-Trainor, but he blasted wide when well placed. Given the balance of play in the first half, Tyrrellspass were no doubt pleased to be leading 2-3 to 0-4 at half-time. The Shannonsiders dominated the early stages of the second half and raised threw white flags within ten minutes of the restart. John Connellan pointed a free after a foul on wing-back John Stapleton, before Alan Gaughan's sweetly struck '45 edged Athlone closer. Gaughan became more influential in the second period and his great tackle on Shane Arthur led to Athlone's next score - a superb point by Mickey Greene, after good work by the prominent Paul Bannon and Tom Stuart-Trainor. Rain was now pelting down but David Glennon made light of the conditions when he landed an exquisite point, his shot just creeping inside the near post. At the other end, John Connellan was a becoming a real thorn in the side of the Tyrrellspass defence. In the 47th minute, Connellan converted a free after he had drawn the foul with an incisive solo run. The outstanding Connellan then hit a terrific left-footed point (48th minute), to leave one between the sides. With Athlone very much in the ascendancy, Alan Gaughan was unlucky to see his attempt at an equaliser trail wide. Yet, in the 21st minute, it looked like Athlone would pay for again coughing up possession needlessly. On this occasion, a misplaced Athlone pass allowed David Glennon to set up a goal chance for his brother Denis, who was lurking unmarked inside the Athlone cover. Paul Mullen fouled the Westmeath forward and a second Tyrrellspass penalty was rightly awarded. David Glennon's penalty was not as well struck as his earlier spotkick and Richie Daly saved, only for the ball to break invitingly for Tyrrellspass sub Ronan Dunbar. However, Daly brilliantly denied Dunbar with a full length save. Moments later, young wing-back Ger Egan gave Tyrrellspass a two-point cushion with a majestic point from close to the right touchline. At the other end, Darren Quinn, whose handling was excellent throughout, made a good catch after Damien Kelly came forward and tried to land a point. John Connellan's seventh point left the bare minimum between the teams again in the 58th minute (2-5 to 0-10). However, the vital next score went to Tyrrellspass after tireless defender Shane Arthur came forward and earned a free, and veteran substitute John Corcoran did the needful. The impressive Philip Sheridan sealed victory for the tidy town side with an injury-time point. Athlone suffered a major blow near the end when substitute Dermot Bannon had to be stretchered off. Bannon was not expected to play any part in this game due to injury and he now looks like missing the rest of the season with suspected cruciate ligament damage. It's a cruel setback for a player who has been extremely unfortunate with injuries over the past 12 months or so. SCORERS - Tyrrellspass: David Glennon 1-1 (1-0pen); T O'Regan 1-0; P Sheridan 0-2; R Sheeran, G O'Toole, G Egan, J Corcoran (f) 0-1 each. Athlone: J Connellan 0-7 (5f); P Bannon, M Greene, A Gaughan ('45) 0-1 each. TYRRELLSPASS: Darren Quinn; Philip Sheridan, Barry Murphy, Terence O'Brien; Shane Arthur, Trevor John Gonoud, Ger Egan; Tim O'Regan, Adrian Corcoran; Ray Sheeran, Denis Glennon, Keith Scally; David Glennon, Ger O'Toole, Brian Slevin. Subs: Ronan Dunbar for Slevin; John Corcoran for O'Toole. ATHLONE: Richie Daly; Paul Mullen, Gary Quinn, Fergal Murray; John Stapleton, Damien Kelly, Paddy Dunning; Paul Bannon, James Tobin; John Egan, Alan Gaughan, Rory O'Connell; John Connellan, Tom Stuart-Trainor, Mickey Greene. Subs: Enda Haughey for Tobin (h-t); Dermot Bannon for Egan; Shane Kilroy-Glynn for D Bannon (injured). REFEREE: Barry Kelly (Mullingar Shamrocks).