Two From The Archives

Athlone In 1997 & 1998

(first published in the May 2009 Athlone Town programme)

Friday 24/01/97
Waterford United      3  (1)             Athlone Town        0
Power (27 pen), Golden (46), Fanning (88)

In the match programme, manager Tommy Lynch said that he would not accept performances like the first half of the recent Longford game, or the second half at Limerick last Sunday, any longer, and that places were being played for tonight. To underline this, he gave a League debut to young forward Gary Innes, the 35th player to play competitively for the Blues this season. Also, he has secured the services of two more young players from English club Darlington on a month’s loan. The two players, England under-18 defender Dave Faulkner, and midfielder Danny Key, did not appear tonight as was hoped, but they are both eligible for the upcoming Cup tie against Shamrock Rovers, so competition for places will be intense in all areas.

The players obviously heeded the warning, for an unchanged side put in a superb performance against Athlone, who were outplayed for pretty much all of the game. Waterford started as chirpily as I’ve ever seen them, and within five minutes John Power had clipped the top of the crossbar with a long range drive, and Donal Golden had tested Shane Curran in Athlone’s goal from close range after a beautiful series of short passes. Golden again forced a great save from Curran after 26 minutes; an Athlone defender handled the resulting corner and Power stepped up to bury his second penalty in as many games. Athlone just were not at the races in the first half, and their only attack of menace fell to Val Keenan who broke away on 25 minutes only for John Grace to save well. Five minutes before half time Waterford had a scare when Joe Reynolds’ clearance was mishit straight to an attacker, but Reynolds recovered very well to block the shot.

The second half kicked off with one of the best goals seen at the RSC for a long time. The Blues appeared in white after the break, as the mud was blurring the difference between the blue shirts of Waterford and the blue and black stripes of Athlone. Tony Hall must have been able to see Trond Debes better, as he dinked a perfect little ball over the defence. Debes, now in acres of space, had time to send a sweet cross to Donal Golden at the far post, and his textbook header flashed downward and back across goal into the opposite corner. This seemed to goad Athlone into action. In the next twenty minutes Grace had to make three great saves, from a Rod DeKhors shot, a Gus Irwin point-blank header, and a shot deflected by a Blues boot. Waterford upped the pace, and sub Gary Innes shot across the face of goal on the run on 77 minutes. A defender got a touch to that shot, and from the resultant corner, Tommy Lynch’s superb 20-yard volley was turned around his near post by Curran. With five minutes remaining another sub, Darren Browne, broke clear and bore down on goal. With Innes unmarked beside him and screaming, Browne elected to shoot, but Curran saved spectacularly.

After 88 minutes Waterford won a free kick on the edge of the area. Tommy Lynch had gone close from frees a couple of times in the game, but this time it was Colin Fanning who struck. His free was well taken, but Curran took his eye off it at the last minute and let it squirm through his hands when it looked safe. Amazingly, almost immediately John Grace did the same thing with an Athlone shot at the other end, but luckily he was far enough from his goalline to be able to turn and paw the ball away. The Blues trooped off to a standing ovation from the reasonably large, and very happy, crowd. Recent home League form has been poor (two points from five games), so this was a welcome win, and it lifts them to third in the table. As for Man of the Match, well, Tony Hall was his usual outstanding self, and Colin Fanning had an influential game in midfield, but Donal Golden takes it for a superb goal, and a performance full of running as well as craft and guile.

Blues: John Grace, John Power, Joe Reynolds, Tommy Lynch, Tony Hall, Colin Fanning, Jason Bowman (Sean Riordan 68), Alan Reynolds, Paul Scully, Trond Debes (Gary Innes 75), Donal Golden (Darren Browne 83)

Friday 17/04/98
Athlone Town      0            Waterford United      1 (1)
                                              Golden (22)
Waterford United were tonight crowned First Division Champions, taking the final points they needed from a comfortable win over Athlone at St. Mel’s Park.

The Blues nearly took the lead after just nine minutes, Karl Gannon cannoning a shot off an upright with the ‘keeper well beaten. They did not have to wait long to go in front, though. Gary Connaughton, in the Athlone goal, did superbly well with a double save from Gannon with 22 minutes gone, but Donal Golden cracked home the second rebound low into the corner.

From then on, Waterford never looked like relinquishing the lead, and the only question was whether they would add to it. The second half saw two Blues goals disallowed for offside, both  close calls. On the hour mark, Tommy Hewitt burst clear and rounded the Athlone ‘keeper, but the whistle sounded well before he shot to the empty net. Fifteen minutes later, a slide-rule pass from Tommy Lynch, giving a Man of the Match performance, sent Paul Scully away, but an even more suspect flag cut short his goal celebrations. Between these incidents, Lynch himself went closest for Waterford, in what was a relatively dull second half, with a 20-yard drive.

After the game, Lynch paid tribute to the team, and their efforts throughout the season, and also promised that real preparations were being made to keep Waterford in the top flight next season. All good to hear, of course, and potentially it makes for another interesting off-season of speculation and rumour. Next week’s game at the RSC, the last of the season, will be a chance for a bit of a celebration for the team and the fans, and after seven seasons without silverware, not many will begrudge them that pleasure.

Blues: Michael Devine, John Power, Joe Harkin, Sean Riordan, Liam Maher, Donal Golden (Mark Reid 78), John Lacey, Tommy Lynch, Pat Sinnott (Paul Scully 70), Tommy Hewitt, Karl Gannon – sub: Alan Reynolds