Lynn points Athlone to vital victory over Tyrrellspass

Athlone came through the test of Tyrrellspass in Milltown GAA last Saturday evening in the second Westmeath SFC game at the venue. Scores from Cillian Lynn and Shane Allen helped to give Athlone an assured and much-needed win.

Following defeats for both sides on the previous weekend in contrasting games (Athlone were edged out by Moate All Whites in an exciting contest, while a depleted Tyrrellspass suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Tubberclair) the need to move in the right direction in Section B was clear for both managers and panels.

On a day when Athlone claimed a needed victory, the injury which forced off Stephen O'Connor was the main downside.

The Shannonsiders opened the scoring through Jordan Carr as he kicked the first of his two points inside the opening 40 seconds. The resulting kickout ended with Cillian Lynn pointing as the sense of a one-sided encounter already began to creep into the minds of some viewers on the sidelines.

Although Tyrrellspass responded through an Evan Connell free, Shane Allen went up the other end to raise both a white and an orange flag, all before the fifth minute.

Athlone were not done and Shane Reid found Kian Mitchell who bore down on goal only for his strike to be blocked by the foot of Jamie Corcoran, resulting in a penalty for the eventual winners. Stephen O’Connor fired home but it would be the last action for the flying forward as he succumbed to an arm injury moments later.With O'Connor's departure came a momentum change as Tyrrellspass hit the net themselves through Peter Pierson after Athlone’s backline did not clear David Glennon’s short effort for a two-pointer. Carr added a second for himself before Lynn’s latest free kept Athlone ahead by 1-7 to 1-1 approaching the 20-minute mark.

Three on the bounce for Enda Monaghan’s side reduced the gap coming up to the break as Cathal Dunne, Pierson, and Val Sizychas all scored.

Just as the half entered stoppage time, Tyrrellspass found themselves one player light for a period as David Hanlon was sent to the line on a black card for a foul on Ray Connellan off the ball. Lynn tagged on a free as the half-time whistle blew and with Athlone four ahead, 1-8 to 1-4.The second half was no sooner alive than Athlone were also temporarily reduced to 14 players, Josh Kenny finding himself on the wrong side of a tackle on Conor Slevin and he was shown the line for ten minutes.

Evan Connell tapped over the resulting free, but a key moment came and went seconds later when Connell's chance on goal came down off the crossbar and back into play. The forward managed to point the rebound to get something from the attack.

It would be the last chance Tyrrellspass would have for a long time as John Twaddle’s troops took the game to their opponents and outscored them heavily in the following minutes. Shane Allen pointed a free before Cillian Lynn did likewise from closer range.

Points from Mitchell and Mark Egan followed before Darragh Lough rolled the ball to the net for Athlone’s second goal.The contest was effectively over but both sides still fought on. Lynn launched a super point from distance to extend the lead before Thomas Ryan and Chris Daly pointed in reply.

A flurry of late scores split between both ends did little to change the complexion of the game as Athlone ran out comfortable winners in the end.

Tyrrellspass finished the game with eight wides compared to four for Athlone, who now have four points on the board.

Scorers – Athlone: C Lynn 0-5 (3f); S Allen 0-4 (1tpf, 1f); D Lough and S O’Connor (pen) 1-0 each; J Carr and K Mitchell 0-2 each; M Byrne and M Egan 0-1 each. Tyrrellspass: P Pierson 1-1; E Connell 0-4 (2f); T Ryan 0-2; C Daly, V Sizychas, C Dunne and D Hanlon (f) 0-1 each.

Athlone - Darren Costello; Josh Kenny, James Finlass, Owen McNamara; Michael Byrne, Diarmuid Martin, Mark Egan; Shane Allen, Ray Connellan; Shane Reid, Eamon Martin, Jordan Carr; Kian Mitchell, Cillian Lynn, Stephen O’Connor. Subs used: Darragh Lough for O’Connor (inj., 9 mins); Stephen Flaherty for Egan (46); Kieran Colclough for Reid (50); Conor Rushe for Lynn (57).

Tyrrellspass - Joe Hyland; Chris Daly, Jamie Corcoran, Cormac Monaghan; Kai Harte, Mark Devine, Conor Slevin; Val Sizychas, David Hanlon; Cathal Dunne, David Glennon, Neale Pierson; Peter Pierson, Darragh O’Brien, Evan Connell. Subs used: Kieran Geraghty for O’Brien (h-t); Thomas Ryan for Slevin (inj., 47 mins).

Referee - Barry Nea (Killucan).