Athlone Town 0
Dundalk 1


Dundalk needed a late intervention from referee Graham Kelly to help them keep pace with league leaders Cork City yesterday as a controversial penalty award in the 94th minute was the difference between them and Athlone Town at Lissywoollen.

Kelly had earlier waved away claims for a Dundalk spot kick in the 76th minute, when it looked as if Declan Brennan had pulled Kurtis Byrne’s jersey as both men pursued a lobbed pass in behind the defence. However there appeared to be no transgression between Brennan and Darren Meenan when Kelly pointed to the spot after they came into contact in the last minute of injury-time.

Richie Towell gratefully and clinically converted the spot kick, while Athlone’s misery was compounded by the sending off of Seán Byrne for dissent in the aftermath of the penalty decision.

Clearcut chances were few and far between in this tie and when they were created, inaccurate shooting left the two goalkeepers underworked.

James O'Brien and Philip Gorman failed to hit the target with opportunities for Athlone, while Towell, Pat Hoban and Darren Meenan all went awry when they had chances.

ATHLONE TOWN: Sexton; Quigley (Sweeney 86), McMahon, D Brennan, Clancy; Hughes; Dillon, Byrne, O'Brien, S Brennan (Marks 73); Gorman.
DUNDALK: Cherrie; Gannon, Rossiter, Boyle, Massey; Higgins; Meenan, Mountney (McMillan 60), Towell, Horgan (Byrne, ht); Hoban (Griffin 82).
Referee: Graham Kelly .