First Division wrap: Midlands bragging rights for Athlone
· RTÉ Sport · 2026-08-07 · nguồn gốc
Two first half goals from Will Smith and Gradi Lamboto helped Athlone Town to their second win of the season over rivals Longford Town in the third Midlands El Clasico of the campaign at the Athlone Town Stadium.
With this fixture form truly goes out the window; coming into this game Longford were in fourth with just one defeat in their last five games while Athlone sat in ninth with their last league win one month ago.
The visitors enjoyed the early possession but neither side created any chances until the 14th minute when the deadlock was broken.
Brian McManus' shot came off Longford defender Taylor McCarthy, it fell nicely to Smith who fired to the net.
Longford had a good chance in the 29th minute; Daragh Murtagh played the ball to Dean Williams but he directed his effort wide.
Minutes later Williams was fouled in the box by James Crawford and a penalty was awarded. He dusted himself off and took the spot-kick but his weak effort was saved by Brendan Clarke.
From open play, Longford couldn’t muster up anything in that half to trouble the former Galway and Shelbourne shot stopper.
The home side, who had soaked up a lot of pressure, doubled their advantage in the 37th minute; McManus with a neat ball to Lomboto who waltzed past a number of Longford defenders before firing a low shot past Longford keeper Kian Moore.
In first half stoppage time a long range snapshot from Crawford was well held by the Longford netminder.
The second half started like the first with Longford having possession but failing to do anything creative with it. Down the other end in the 54th minute Peter Grogan played the ball to McManus but his effort was easily stopped by Moore.
One minute later the home side were awarded a penalty after Taylor McCarthy fouled Smith. Grogan took the kick but his poor effort was saved by Moore.
Longford continued to press but with no end product. That was until the 77th minute when substitute Stefan Ugbesia found the back of the net with a fine strike from just inside the box.
The final 10 minutes were all action as the visitors sought the share of the spoils but they wouldn't go close.
Instead, Athlone sub Cillian Tollett had his effort blocked down by Longford sub Sultan Abenekan in the 83rd minute. But they couldn't get the equaliser.
Athlone Town: Brendan Clarke; Evan O’Connor, James Crawford, Kyle O’Connor; Aaron Connolly; Jonathan Kehir, Sean Brennan, Brian McManus, Gradi Lomboto (Callum Cleary 87); Will Smith (Cillian Tollett 70), Peter Grogan (Robert Lyons 70).
Longford Town: Kian Moore; Alex O’Brien, Cole Omorehionwan, Taylor McCarthy, Jake Hough; Pharrell Manuel (James Bailey 60), Daniel McKenna (Stefan Ubesia 60), Sean Moore (Sultan Adenekan 74), Andy Paraschiv (Matthew Harris 74); Dean Williams (Ronan Dawson 74), Daragh Murtagh.
Referee: Daryl Carolan
Cork City's march to the title continued as the top three sides in the table all won, but the Rebel Army were made to work for the points in a 3-1 Munster derby victory against Kerry.
The visitors led for nearly 45 minutes after Cian Bargary's splendid goal, as he took down a high ball and judged his chipped finish superbly over the head of Conor Brann.
But Cork continued to battle, equalising through a deflected Conor Drinan effort with 13 minutes to go. Seani Maguire completed the comeback in stoppage time, finishing from close range after his initial effort was saved by Matt Connor, before Darragh Crowley's goal a minute later, which later seemed harsh on Kerry.
Bray Wanderers remain 20 points adrift after picking up a first win in three games. They had far too much for bottom side Finn Harps, winning 5-0 at the Carlisle Grounds.
Ben McCormack cheeky finish had Wanderers two up at the break, but Harps would stay in touch until Max Hutchison was sent off for a second yellow.
It was all the Seagulls thereafter, Tyreik Sammy making it three after Kyle Tucker put it on a plate for him, before Dean O'Shea and Sammy added further goals to send everyone home from the seaside happy.
UCD are also 20 points behind Cork after a 4-1 win over Wexford in Belfield.
Louis Dignam had the Students ahead on six minutes, with a goal either side of half-time from Ciaran Behan breaking the back of the match for Willie O'Connor's side. The second of those was the pick of the hosts' lot, as he smashed one home, from outside the box, into the right corner.
Hugh Smith's penalty completed the scoring at the Bowl.
Cobh Ramblers, meanwhile, leapfrogged Wexford and Kerry into the play-off spots after a 2-0 win over Treaty United at St Colman's Park.
Ramblers were reduced to 10 men before they scored, as Brendan Frahill was shown a second yellow card. But they didn't let it impact them, with Jordan Adeyemi scoring twice in two minutes to send them up to fifth place.