Connellan rescues Athlone as draw is enough for Tyrrellspass to progress
Athlone 0-11 Tyrrellspass 2-5
In a game Athlone should have put to bed in the second half, they needed a late point from Ray Connellan to salvage a draw against Tyrrellspass at Hogan Park last Saturday evening.
The result was more welcome for Tyrrellspass as it leaves them on five points, which is enough to clinch a knockout place as two teams in Section A can't match their total.
With Tyrrellspass talisman Ger Egan forced off injured early in the second half and Conor Slevin then sin-binned for ten minutes, the momentum was with Athlone. The Shannonsiders enjoyed a three-point lead (0-10 to 1-4) inside the last ten minutes but a stunning 57th-minute goal from Tommy Ryan put Tyrrellspass in front and on the brink of victory.
Connellan's stoppage time equaliser secured a share of the spoils for Athlone and, having looked poised for victory, it would have been a major setback to come away empty handed. As the final scoreline shows, Athlone scored 11 times to their opponents' seven, but the second Tyrrellspass goal almost proved enough to snatch victory.
In a scrappy first half littered with mistakes, both sides managed just three scores each. On the evidence of the opening half, both teams would need to improve drastically to mount a genuine challenge for the Flanagan Cup.
Both sides wore a changed strip with Tyrrellspass in maroon with blue trim, and Athlone in a mainly white jersey rather than their customary stripes. Athlone opened the scoring when Cillian Lynn pointed a free, earned by Stephen O'Connor. After Athlone's Michael Byrne was narrowly off target, Ger Egan brought Tyrrellspass level with a seventh-minute free, his kick going just over the bar.
Former Westmeath star Egan was involved in one of the few creative passages of play during the first half, playing a one-two with Kieran Geraghty, before setting up Nigel Harte to palm the ball into the Athlone net (13th minute).
Tyrrellspass attacker Evan Connell added a fine point and suddenly Athlone found themselves five down (1-2 to 0-1). At times Athlone players seemed reluctant to shoot when well placed and, on other occasions, they tried shots from highly improbable positions. Such is the balancing act when facing a packed defence.
In a bid to improve their fortunes, Ray Connellan was moved to midfield from full-forward with Danny Reid going the other way. Reid soon sent over a badly needed Athlone point, having availed of Shane Allen's pass. Connellan followed up with a point to leave two between them.
Athlone paid the price for showing dissent after being awarded a free-in, with a scoreable though tricky free changed to a 'hop ball'. Towards the end of the first half, Egan was unfortunate to see his point attempt hit the post – Adam Flanagan had endured similar ill luck with an earlier '45' - with the Athlone defence again gobbling up the rebound. And so it remained 1-2 to 0-3 in favour of Tyrrellspass at half-time.
Connellan, who started the second half at midfield alongside Kieran Colclough, won the ball back from the throw-in. The ball was quickly played inside to Reid, whose shot flew over the bar with Tyrrellspass goalie Joe Hyland getting a touch.
Flanagan was afforded space to reply for Tyrrellspass, before a classy score by Egan put Eddie Kinsella's charges three ahead. However, Egan was soon forced off the field with what looked like a knee injury.
Shane Allen (a mark) and Stephen Flaherty sent over points for Athlone, before Tyrrellspass suffered another blow when Slevin was sent to the sin bin on a black card.
With Athlone now having a numerical advantage for ten minutes, Eoin Jordan's charges enjoyed a dominant spell. Lynn brought Athlone level with a free before Stephen O'Connor put them in front for the first time since early on.
Two points from the influential Connellan put Athlone three ahead – the second coming after some vociferous Tyrrellspass fans claimed for a penalty, but referee Pat Fox appeared correct to allow play to continue. In truth, the Shannonsiders had chances to forge further in front during this spell of the contest and they almost paid a heavy price.
After a point from Flanagan edged Tyrrellspass closer, Ryan took on the Athlone rearguard and, despite appearing to have lost control of the ball, he let fly off the ground and his improvised effort flew into the corner of the net.
Now facing a potentially deflating defeat, Athlone regained their composure and, fittingly, the equaliser was a sumptuous score from Connellan (62nd minute). The final whistle came just after Reid won the ball back in an attacking position, but Athlone had to be content with a share of the spoils.
Man of the match: Ray Connellan (Athlone). The Westmeath player showed his class with four points from play and had to withstand plenty of robust and illegal attention on and off the ball, much of which went unpunished. Adam Flanagan had a fine game for Tyrrellspass, while Michael Byrne was also to the fore for Athlone.
What it means: Athlone, now on four points after a second successive draw, are well placed to advance to the knockout stages. But a defeat to Tang in their last game could still see them lose out, depending on the result of Caulry's clash with Coralstown/Kinnegad.
Scorers - Athlone: R Connellan 0-4; D Reid and C Lynn (2f) 0-2 each; S O'Connor, S Flaherty and S Allen (mark) 0-1 each. Tyrrellspass: N Harte and T Ryan 1-0 each; A Flanagan and G Egan (1f) 0-2 each; E Connell 0-1.
Athlone: Darren Costello; Stephen Flaherty, Josh Kenny, James Finlass; Michael Byrne, Eamon Martin, Kieran Colclough; Benny Martin, Danny Reid; Mark Egan, Shane Allen, Stephen O'Connor; Cillian Lynn, Ray Connellan, Conor Rushe. Subs: Diarmuid Martin for Egan (half-time); Shane Reid for B Martin (41 mins); John Stapleton for Rushe (50).
Tyrrellspass: Joe Hyland; Jamie Gonoud, Kai Harte, Jamie Corcoran; Cormac Monaghan, Nigel Harte, Conor Slevin; David Hanlon, Adam Flanagan; Val Sizychas, Kieran Geraghty, Ger Egan; Tommy Ryan, Cathal Dunne, Evan Connell. Subs: David Lynam for Egan (injured, 38 mins); Eoin Corcoran for Sizychas (56).
Referee: Pat Fox (Rosemount).