Athenry go to town in dismissing city rivals’ challenge

At Millar’s Lane, Athenry were always in command against Bohemians, while it required penalties at the Curragh Grounds where Ballinasloe emerged victorious over a Mervue side who just cannot win a penalty shootout.

Bohemians 0

Athenry FC 5

Last season’s beaten finalists have given themselves another bite at the Connacht Junior Cup cherry as they set up a repeat of the 2012 decider when a last minute goal on that occasion gave them a dramatic victory.

This semi final at a cold but sunny Millar’s Lane certainly produced the expected outcome as the visitors weathered an early storm, before pulling away for the expected victory. However, their win was marred by the late red card dismissal of substitute Colm O’Donovan and the striker will now miss the final.

Though the most memorable moments of the game were highlighted by two terrific Declan Cullen headers, the early minutes also produced a contentious moment when the central defender escaped with just a yellow card for a challenge outside the box on Sean Guinan.

The resulting free kick by John Sange was driven over and indeed the same player had an earlier opportunity of giving the home side a shock lead, but he just could not get a touch to a Mike Carr cross.

Now it took as while for the early frantic action to settle down before Athenry had the first direct hit on goal after 12 minutes when Jamie O’Driscoll brought a save from Jimmy McDaid. They made the breakthrough on 19 minutes when Gary Forde was upended in the box and the winger picked himself up to drive a low effort past McDaid.

The city side were finding it difficult to get within shooting range of Dara Murphy’s goal as Cullen and Paddy Quinn dominated in central defence, while in front of them Gary Delaney and Jamie O’Driscoll displayed a calm authority as they edged the midfield battle.

Bohemians just threatened twice before the break, but Mike Carr could not get a touch to a Keith Fitzgerald free kick on 26 minutes before Carr fired a shot directly at Murphy in a half chance.

Athenry put some distance between the sides on 36 minutes when Cullen rose majestically to power home a header from an Alan Harty corner to make it 2-0.

Any chance of a real contest in the second half was ended on 51 minutes when the visitors were awarded a second penalty after Forde again was upended in the box and with the winger getting treatment, Alan O’Donovan directed the resulting spot kick home for a 3-0 advantage. In a replica of his opener, Declan Cullen notched his second of the day on 56 minutes with another header, following an O’Donovan corner on this occasion.

Will the result a given at this stage, Athenry appeared to drop their intensity and became somewhat lethargic. That outcome allowed the home side some more latitude and in fairness, they stepped up their performance and only for lacking some finesse in the finishing department should have broken their duck.

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