Superb Lowry hat-trick sees Tullamore edge out Athy
Tullamore Town 3 Athy Town 2
Tullamore emerged victorious against Athy in the battle of the towns in Leah Victoria Park last Thursday as their recent good run continued unabated.
They got off to the best possible start when, with only three minutes on the clock, Martin Lowry got on the end of a probing cross from Simon Keegan and fired the ball into the far corner to put his side in front. They nearly increased their lead when Alan Murray broke through the middle but failed to get enough purchase on his shot and Eamon Brownlee in the Athy goal saved comfortably. Anthony Coyne was next to test the keeper when, following a corner, he had his header saved while, at the other end, Jason Enright got on the end of a free kick but his header flew narrowly wide.
With 30 minutes gone, the visitors were back on level terms when a corner was knocked on to Ian Foley and he swept the ball home from close range. Aidan Nicholson threatened when he won back possession but his deflected shot was well held by Brownlee and he was again called into action when he held a swerving 30-yard effort from Enda Carroll. Athy nearly went ahead on the stroke of half-time when Enright fired in a great shot from 25 yards, but Dean Goode brilliantly tipped the ball around the post to leave the teams tied at 1-1 at the interval.
Athy began the second half the brighter with Jason Enright playing in Ian Foley but Goode got down to save. Simon Keegan then went close for Tullamore when he broke through the middle but he was denied by a fine relieving tackle from Sean Byrne. With Enda Carroll and David Lee tightening their grip on midfield, Tullamore continued to press and they went close when Carroll released Lowry but again the experienced Byrne snuffed out the danger. The visitors nearly scored in bizarre circumstances on 65 minutes when a Dean Goode clearance cannoned off Ian Foley and rebounded over the crossbar.
With Keith O’Connor coming on, the home side redoubled their efforts and a great break out of defence by Mark Gorman picked out Carroll who cut the ball back to Martin Lowry but his shot flew inches outside the far post. But he was not to be denied on 75 minutes when Enda Carroll sent him clear with a superb reverse pass and he squeezed it under the advancing keeper and into the net.
Athy refused to lie down and five minutes later were back in the game when Ian Devereux broke clear on the right and played a lovely ball through to Brendan Curtis, who made no mistake from close range. As Tullamore tried to restore their advantage Brian Francis picked out Aidan Nicholson but he fired over and then with five minutes remaining Martin Lowry again took centre stage. Good play by Alan Murray and Enda Carroll on the left saw the ball fed back to Anthony Coyne and his deep cross found Lowry, who cut inside before driving the ball into the far corner to complete a superb hat-trick. With minutes remaining Carroll played a great ball through to Lowry but this time he was denied by a fine save from Brownlee as the home side ran out narrow but deserving winners.
Manager Kevin O’Connor will have been delighted with this fine battling performance against a very experienced Athy side. For Tullamore there were excellent contributions from Brian Francis, Enda Carroll and David Lee with Sean Byrne, Jason Enright and Paul Rigney the pick of the visitors but the Cosgrove’s Bar man of the match award went to Tullamore’s match winner, Martin Lowry.
Tullamore: Dean Goode, Stuart Kavanagh, Brian Francis, Mark Gorman, Anthony Coyne, Simon Keegan, Aidan Nicholson, Enda Carroll, Trevor Francis, Martin Lowry, Alan Murray. Subs: David Lee, Keith O’Connor, Brian Kane, Ronan Wall and Thomas Fleming.
