0923 Athlone Town v Shelbourne

Saturday 25th July 2009 – FAI League of Ireland Division 1
Athlone Town 2-2 Shelbourne

It was the Late Late Show at Lissywollen where Athlone came from 0-2 down to earn a share of the spoils and banish the memory of Tuesday nights massacre.
Town had 2 chances early on but Shels keeper Dean Delaney was in fine form but then disaster struck as Colin O’Brien fired in a bullet shot to give the visitors the lead. David McAllister followed suit and put Shels 2 to the good with a well taken header.

For once in a long season a referee actually done Athlone a favour when he produced a red card to Damien Brennan after the Shels captain insinuated that he was going to cause considerable damage to an Athlone player while also alerting the official to his overweight condition.

Town mounted more attacks and Austin Skelly proved to be a thorn in the side of every single Shels player. Noel McGee made another appearence from the bench and the local striker didnt disappoint as he convered a low header to grab a goal back for Town. What followed was a moment of fluke or class … you decide. Young Gun Tom O’Halloran broke down the left flank and apon reaching Dave Tyrrells short corner along the end line he fired the ball in across the goalmouth. Shels keeper Dean Delaney jumped but misjudged the flight of the ball and as it flew high across the goalmouth the ball seemed to dip and swerve … ending up in the back of the net! According to Tom he’d been practicing that shot in training … we’re not too sure, but delighted all the same!

And so it ended honours even @ The Wollen!

Kit Used: Canon 40D, Sigma 70-200 f/2.8, Manfrotto monopod

Brian Cleary gets on top of Richie Baker