Sweeney’s stunner nets point for Athlone Town

Athlone Town 1 Shamrock Rovers 1

Athlone Town salvaged what could prove a crucial point in the battle to avoid the drop when a stunning 25-yard drive from Ian Sweeney gave them a share of the spoils against Shamrock Rovers last night at Lissywoollen.

The Hoops struggled to make inroads against the defensive alignment of the home side in the first half but they picked up the intensity after the interval and laid siege to the Athlone goal for the duration of the third quarter, making their breakthrough when Karl Sheppard headed home Gary McCabe’s left-wing cross.

Athlone hadn’t looked capable of scoring but out of nowhere, substitute Ian Sweeney produced a moment of magic with 10 minutes to play. He seized a loose pass at midfield and with, the defence on the back foot, he scythed past two of them and delivered a stunning strike from 25 yards to give his team a vital point.

ATHLONE TOWN: R Coulter; D Hayes, D Prendergast, D Brennan, K Knight; K Dillon; S Brennan, E Foley, M Hughes, D Doyle; P Gorman.

Subs: J Mulroy for Foley (67), I Sweeney for Doyle (70)

SHAMROCK ROVERS: B Murphy; D O’Connor, C Kenna, J McGuinness, S Madden; G McCabe, S McPhail, R Bayly, R Brennan; K Sheppard, R Finn.

Subs: S O’Connor for Brennan (HT), D Kelly for Finn (70), P Cregg for Bayly (83).

Referee: Padraigh Sutton.