Listless United pay the penalty in surprise loss to Athlone men

Galway United 0

GALWAY United undid all the good work from ending Shelbourne’s unbeaten start to the season a week earlier when turning in a listless performance in Athlone on Friday night to end their chances of the league title.

Shels were dropping points again at the weekend, held to a draw by Bray Wanderers, so a United win over an Athlone Town side beaten 6-0 in their previous outing would have seen John Caulfield’s side cut the gap at the top to five points.

Instead, a disjointed display from the visitors left them empty handed at a ground where they also lost earlier in the season – and where they look destined to return to again next season in another year in the First Division.

Friday’s display won’t be good enough to win the First Division play-off, never mind toppling the likes of Finn Harps, Waterford United or – as things stand now – Dundalk in the promotion play-off.

That’s not to say all hope is lost – United dragged themselves back into the title picture thanks to a fine run of results which began, ironically, with a 2-1 win at home to Athlone Town, but Friday’s poor display is a cause of concern and even left Caulfield questioning the attitude of his players after the game.

Paul Doolin took charge of the home side having replaced the sacked Adrian Carberry during the week following Town’s 6-0 drubbing at the hands of UCD the previous weekend.

In something of a surprise given the nature of that defeat, the new manager stuck largely with the same XI, making only one unforced change, bringing in Stephen Meaney for Glen McAuley, who dropped to the bench.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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