Athlone defeat Maryland to claim third straight victory

Athlone laid down a further marker that they may well emerge as a big threat to neighbours Garrycastle in their attempt to regain the Flanagan Cup with a fine win over a very plucky Maryland outfit in the second game of the Westmeath senior football championship double-header at Hogan Park, Moate on Saturday evening last. Both sides were defending 100 per cent records coming into this game and it looked for long periods that the game might end with both of the neighbouring clubs still unbeaten. However, three late points secured the win for the Shannonsiders, whose mixture of youth and experience seems sure to make them serious championship contenders. For their part, Maryland will still be pleased with their contribution to an absorbing encounter and they have established themselves as very worthy challengers to more established clubs in the top flight of Westmeath football. Bright start by Athlone Athlone had wind advantage in the first half and they raced into an impressive five-point lead by the midpoint of the opening moiety. A converted '45' by Joe Fallon - the veteran corner-forward had a fine game all through - was followed by a point from Brian Fogarty, which actually appeared wide to this reporter. A fine point from a tight angle by Alan Gaughan preceded an even better score from Joe Fallon, the ball going over via the crossbar. John Connellan then got his name on the scoresheet with a beautifully-judged free, following some great trickery near the Maryland goal area from Mickey Greene. The eventual losers opened their account in the 16th minute when David Martin tapped over a close-range free after Fergal Murray was adjudged to have thrown the ball. A classy solo point from John Connellan and a neat score from Mickey Greene, availing of great play from Tom Stuart-Trainor, put the men in the sky blue and white hoops six points ahead with less than 20 minutes elapsed. John Reilly chipped in with a brace of well-taken points for Maryland in the closing minutes of the first half, following good work from Callum McCormack and Kieran Martin respectively. Sandwiched between these scores, McCormack could have reduced the deficit further, but the full forward shot a bad wide. In the first minute of injury-time, Joe Fallon kicked a tremendous point for the winners, leaving the scoreboard at half-time reading: Athlone 0-8 Maryland 0-3. Both sides struggled to find the target in the early stages of the second moiety, with the highlight being Maryland's all-action wing back Ronan Moran firing the ball wide in a goal attempt after a great move in the sixth minute. Athlone substitute Dermot Bannon was narrowly wide with an ambitious attempt for a point, moments after his introduction before inter-county panellist Alan Gaughan stretched the winners' lead in the ninth minute with a point via the upright, which could easily have been a goal. However, Athlone failed to score over the ensuing 23 minutes as a committed side in dark blue and white rallied superbly. Pointed frees from David Martin and John Reilly were followed by a low-trajectory point from Kieran Martin, just past the midpoint of the half. Half-time substitute James Reynolds opened his account in the 19th minute, after the winners' netminder Darren Costello was caught in possession when soloing up the pitch. Indeed, Costello was injured in his foray from his goalmouth and had to be replaced. An outstanding point from versatile Westmeath player Kieran Martin had the gap down to the bare minimum in the 23rd minute. O'Dea proves his worth Aidan O'Dea proved his worth between the sticks for Athlone with a fine save from Callum McCormack at the expense of a '45', which the latter player failed to convert. His opposite number, Mickey Greene almost got through for a goal at the other end before David Martin tied up the contest with a terrific point from a 45-metre free taken from his hands in the 31st minute. A number of stoppages resulted in a whopping seven minutes of added-time being correctly allocated and it was then that Athlone's greater experience shone through. A fisted score from John Connellan, a class point from Joe Fallon and another fisted effort from Tom Stuart-Trainor wrapped up the points for Athlone, after a very entertaining game. ATHLONE: Darren Costello; Davy O'Neill, Gary Quinn, Fergal Murray; Noel Mulligan, Damien Kelly, Adam Ward; Paul Bannon, Aidan St John; Brian Fogarty (0-1), Tom Stuart-Trainor (0-1), Alan Gaughan (0-2); Joe Fallon (0-4, 0-1 '45'), Mickey Greene (0-1), John Connellan (0-3, 1 free) Subs: Dermot Bannon (for St John, 36 mins), Aidan O'Dea (for Costello, inj, 51 mins), Dermot McManus (for Mulligan, 51 mins). MARYLAND: Tom Moran; Conor Farrell, David Reynolds, Eoin Farrell; Darren Malynn, John Cunningham, Ronan Moran; Aidan Reynolds, Liam Reilly, David Martin (0-3, 3 frees), Kieran Martin (0-2), Anthony Reynolds; John Reilly (0-3, 1 free), Callum McCormack, Joe Harte. Subs: Enda Kincaid (for Harte, 26 mins), James Reynolds (0-1) (for Aidan Reynolds, h-t), Christy Grimes (for Anthony Reynolds, 42 mins), Kenny Kincaid (for D. Reynolds, inj, 55 mins), Stephen Martin (for D. Martin, 30 + 7 mins). REFEREE: Barry Kelly (Mullingar Shamrocks).