Cork City 3-2 Athlone

By Donncha Noonan | Photo: Kevin Barry Dorney

After returning to winning ways on Friday night, Cork City were looking to further extend their lead at the top of the First Division as they hosted Athlone Town on Bank Holiday Monday. It was a successful Banker for Barry Robson’s men, as on a wet and windy night City snatched a 3-2 win at the Cross.

Barry Robson made just one change to the team that secured a 3-0 win over Finn Harps last time out, with Niall O’Keeffe coming in to replace Greg Bolger who missed out through suspension.

Sean O’Connor went with four changes from his side’s draw with UCD. Cillian Tollett, Kyle O’Connor, Patrick Ferry and Thomas Considine all made way, with Gradi Lomboto, Peter Grogan, William Smith and Joshua Farnham stepping into the starting lineup.

It didn’t take long for the scoring to be opened, and it went City’s way after three minutes. Brendan Clarke's pass into midfield during build-up went straight to the feet of Darragh Crowley, who subsequently released Cillian Murphy towards goal. He approached before sliding the ball across to Ruairi Keating who tapped the ball home to give the hosts an early lead.

City kept the pressure on with multiple breaches of Athlone’s defensive structure, and could’ve had a second nine minutes later. Rory Feely drove a low ball into the feet of Hans Mpongo in the centre of midfield. The Dutchman turned and drove towards the edge of the box, before curling a shot narrowly wide of the left hand post.

It wasn’t long after that City found that second goal, through the League’s top goalscorer. Niall O’Keeffe did well to intercept Joshua Farnham’s pass in midfield, and then found Hans Mpongo with a forward pass. Mpongo attacked the Athlone defence, using Keating’s run to drift right and into the box, before unleashing a low strike which ricocheted off of Jonathan Kehir and into the bottom right corner.

Athlone were struggling with City in transition, but almost caught the hosts with one of their own in the twenty-seventh minute. James Crawford dinked a ball over the CIty defence down the left flank for Peter Grogan to chase. He reached it before cutting back and laying it off to the oncoming Gradi Lomboto, who poked it first time and watched his shot rattle the bottom of the post.

The visitors would rue that missed opportunity five minutes later as City capitalised and made it three. A collision between Darragh Crowley and Peter Grogan in midfield broke the ball loose for Josh Fitzpatrick, who played it forward to Cillian Murphy. The youngster turned and barrelled at the Athlone defense before slipping the ball right into the path of Ruairi Keating who dispatched a low shot into the bottom left corner.

Despite the deficit, Athlone wouldn’t lie down and had a great chance in the thirty-ninth minute. Good passing play from the visitors allowed Gradi Lomboto to break away and slide Peter Grogan through on goal. Grogan raced forward before aiming a high shot at goal, one which Conor Brann was able to tip over the bar at full stretch.

Their persistence eventually paid off, as they got themselves back in the game on the stroke of half time. A Lomboto ball across goal caused havoc in the City box, with the ball bobbling off multiple bodies before being cleared back to Lomboto. His volley was spilled by Conor Brann, which allowed Peter Grogan to sweep in and prod the ball home to give his side a glimpse of hope before the break.

That was all for the first half as a vibrant City blitzed Athlone, leaving them with a two-goal advantage going into the second period.

Athlone started the second half brighter than they did the first, and should’ve grabbed their second six minutes in. A quick free kick from James Crawfod was floated to the back post, where it found an unmarked Jonathan Kehir. He took the ball down and fired a close range effort at goal, but somehow Conor Brann got out to deny the defender.

Their much improved start paid dividends as they cut City’s lead down to one in the sixtieth minute. A brilliant corner delivery from James Crawford landed on the penalty spot, where Peter Grogan rose highest to grab his second of the game by nodding the ball into the bottom left corner.

Athlone continued to push for an equaliser, with a couple of half chances flying over or wide as the game approached the last five minutes and the visitors becoming more and more desperate. 

Patrick Ferry had a good shooting chance blocked in the dying minutes, but that proved to be the only sight that Athlone had at an equaliser as City held on for a win that brings them twenty points clear atop the First Division. In a spell where City haven’t been at the top of their game, the first half was quite encouraging as the hosts utilised quick breaks and balls down the channels to seemingly put away Athlone early on. That being said, the visitors fought hard in the second half and were quite impressive, and City will be disappointed in leaving those two goals to make the game close.

My Man of the Match goes to Cillian Murphy. Ruairi Keating can feel unlucky to miss out, but Murphy was the orchestrator for City’s attacking chances and ran the game in the first half especially. He grabbed two assists along the way and was definitely City’s standout performer.

It's another home game ahead for City on Friday as the Leesiders host an in-form Kerry FC at the Cross. As for Athlone, they’ll look to shake off this loss as they host Longford Town in the ‘El Classico’.