Super sub Cillian Tollett strikes late for Athlone Town to inflict back-to-back defeats on Kerry

Kerry FC manager Colin Healy during a SSE Airtricity Men's First Division match. Pic: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile.

Kerry 0 Athlone Town 1

Substitute Cillian Tollett continued Athlone Town’s encouraging start to the League of Ireland First Division campaign as his smash-and-grab 87th minute winner against Kerry sealed the visitors’ second successive victory.

In what was largely an uneventful encounter at a windy Mounthawk Park, Ian Ryan’s charges struck for the winner late on when midfielder Brian McManus supplied the assist for Tollett, and the replacement deceived Matt Connor at his near post with a left-foot strike.

Although against the elements in the opening half, the visitors had the first opportunity in the sixth minute. A Jonas Hakkinen error allowed Aaron Moloney to find Patrick Ferry, and his right-foot rocket was well saved by Connor.

With Vincent Borden quick to settle in midfield, and flashes from Brandon Bermingham on the left flank, the hosts almost went ahead three minutes later. An in-swinging corner from Sean O’Connell saw Borden thump a header off the angle of post and crossbar.

The remainder of the half wasn’t much to write home about. Cian Murphy headed wide from another O’Connell corner in the 19th minute, while Ferry forced a second save out of Connor four minutes from half-time.

The second half also took an age to get going, with Athlone struggling for invention, and the home side staying resolute. A couple of acrobatic Bermingham efforts, and a Sean McGrath attempt that was saved, was the best of what Kerry could produce.

Referee Declan Toland waved away the visitors’ penalty appeal in the 84th minute but, just as it seemed inevitable that the game would end in a scoreless stalemate, Tollett came off the bench to leave Colin Healy’s side pointless after week two.

KERRY: Connor; Lee, Cantwell, Hakkinen, O’Connell; Brookwell, Borden; Okwute (Palmer 76), McGrath (Brosnan 87), Bermingham; Murphy.

ATHLONE TOWN: Clarke; Webb, Roche, E O’Connor, K O’Connor; Moloney (Tollett 76), McManus; Ferry (Lyons 61), Connolly, Lomboto; Grogan.

Referee: Declan Toland.