Late goal denies Salthill Devon the win in U-19 Elite Division

Date Published: 24-Sep-2012

Three city venues were awash with Dr Tony O’Neill Airtricity U-19 League action over the weekend as all the League of Ireland Clubs were in action.

Salthill Devon were denied all the points on offer in Drom, when Elite Division leaders Shamrock Rovers notched an injury time equaliser to deny the home side in a 2-2 draw.

In the Southern Division, Mervue United did all their best work in the opening half as four early goals gave them a merited win over Mick Wallace’s Wexford Youths, while in Eamonn Deacy Park, Galway United Supporters Trust (GUST) generally played second fiddle to table toppers Athlone Town as they went down 2-0.

Galway United 0

Athlone Town 2

Buoyed by an impressive away win over Longford Town the previous week, Galway United Supporters Trust FC were taking a big step in class against a Midlands outfit that were looking to maintain their perfect start to the campaign with a fourth win in succession.

Early indications were that it was going to be a difficult task for the home side as Eoin McCormack, Conor Marlow and Jordan Conroy made an immediate impact for the visitors and a busy spell was rewarded with the lead goal on 14 minutes, when Ethan Keogh finished off a rebound from the crossbar.

An Ian Sweeney free-kick rebounded off a post, as the home side struggled to get any sort of a grip on proceedings.

Certainly there were a few bright lights in the United selection and none more so than Morgan Lyons. The winger was a constant threat and provider throughout and it was only bad fortune that some of his numerous deliveries were not finished off in front of goal.

Rikki Graham, Dean Tierney and Darragh Kelly probed and threatened throughout, but for all their work, they never really worked Brian Redmond in the visitors’ goal.

His only real test came on 87 minutes, when the home side were awarded a penalty for a nudge in the box and his spring to his right comfortably pushed away Gabriel Darcy’s spot kick.

By then Athlone had added a second on 68 minutes, as a terrific finish by Jordan Conroy, gave CiarÁn MacMathuna no chance from inside the box.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.