Hat-trick for Murphy as red-hot Blues hit five

Waterford United 5 Athlone Town 1

Paul Murphy opened the scoring after just two minutes when he was played through by Paul Phelan and he lifted the ball over the advancing Schlingerman to the bottom corner.

The Blues doubled their advantage 20 minutes later when David Breen rose to meet a Gary Dunphy free from the right and his looping header from 12 yards beat the Athlone netminder in the far corner.

Gary Dunphy added a third when he met a Paul Phelan pass and swept it past Schlingerman and a minute later Murphy scored his second when he met another low cross from Phelan.

Athlone pulled one back 15 minutes from time when Wayne Colbert took a pass from Kevin Williamson and fired home from close range after the visitors were awarded a free kick on the six yard line for a Blues back pass.

Murphy completed his hat-trick on 82 minutes when Dunphy played a short free kick to him and from 25 yards he blasted the ball to bottom corner.

WATERFORD UNITED: K Burns, P Carey, K Browne, K Murray, S Long, P Walsh (D Wilson 70’), G Dunphy, C Sinnott (D Breen 13’), P Phelan (G Keane 74’), A McSherry, P Murphy.

ATHLONE TOWN: M Schlingerman, D Fallon, J Carr, J Woods (T Barrett HT), P Danaher, W Colbert, K Williamson, D Ryan, N Scullion (R Murray 58’), J Hughes (M Sherlock 68’), N McGee

Referee: S Grant (Wexford).