Devon make a statement of intent with win over Athenry

Athenry 0

Mike Rafferty in Drom

For a few years now Mikie Fox has produced moments of magic and scored some stunning goals and on Wednesday night in Drom he did both at the same time as his lead goal put Salthill Devon on the road to a merited and comfortable success over an Athenry side who struggled to get out of the starting blocks.

The outcome opens up the challenge for Premier Division honours, as a previously unbeaten Athenry trail Devon by three points, but they still enjoy two games in hand.

It was a must-win game for the home side, and they played accordingly on an all-weather surface that suited both sides who wanted to pass the ball about. However, there was more of a cutting edge about the home side, as they conceded nothing at the back while they got forward in numbers to create far more than the visitors.

The early exchanges offered little of note at either end as both probed in rather timid fashion. Mick Lee delivered a few crosses from the left, but there were no takers to finish, before a Fox corner was headed over the top by recent signing, Alberto Cabaynes.

Athenry were even less productive in attack, and with the set-piece deliveries of Dan Cunningham finding no takers, their opportunities were very limited as Conor Raftery, Jackson de Silva, and Calym Crowe reigned supreme at the back for Devon all night.

The gentle opening to the game was lit up by a sublime Fox strike on 16 minutes when he took possession on the right and let fly with his favourite left peg and goalkeeper TJ Forde hardly moved as it flew past him.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

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