Athlone battle back to earn a draw at Dalymount

RTÉ News​

2 days ago

Athlone Town came from two goals down to rescue a point in a thriller at Dalymount as the country's form team hosted the reigning champions who were desperate to climb back to the summit.
The home side had been ahead thanks to Katie Lovely and Alannah McEvoy but The Town showed their grit to comeback as a Kelly Brady goal just before the break and a late Roisin Molloy header meant the spoils were shared.
A sun-soaked Dalymount made for perfect conditions as both teams came flying out of the traps.
The dangerous Molloy fizzed a shot straight at Rachael Kelly with a couple of minutes gone, and quickly followed this up with a pin-point cross to Brady whose first-time goal-bound volley was brilliantly blocked behind by Roisin McGovern.
But the hosts, still reeling from news breaking before the game that they will be without one of the stars of the season in Katie McCarn for the next six weeks, showed just why they a stellar seven-game unbeaten run in all competitions, that included booking their place in the All-Island Cup final at the end of the month.
Following a good spell of pressure, the fearless home side got themselves in front in the 12th minute when Irish Under-19 star Aoibhe Brennan dug out a quality cross to the back post to Lovely who powered home a close-range header having sharply gotten in front of her marker.
It was always going to be a tough challenge against the reigning champions, who would still have been riding high from their Champions League exploits, and the visitors showed their quality just after the half-hour mark, smashing the frame of the goal twice in quick succession.
Firstly Shauna Brennan bombed forward from left back and whipped in another quality cross that was guided onto the crossbar by former Arizona Wildcats alumn Sarah Rice and seconds later star winger Madie Gibson cut in from the left, drifted across the box only to see her low strike smash off the foot of the post.
Athlone are back on level terms 👊
Gibson's cross is finished off by Róisín Molloy! pic.twitter.com/th43AiDShG — LOI Women (@LoiWomen) August 9, 2025
But incredibly it was Bohs who doubled their lead, flying straight down the other end and having put together some neat build up play, it was McEvoy that was on hand to tap home a curled cross from Sarah McKevitt.
The two-goal lead didn't last long though as the dynamic front three finally clicked for the illustrious visitors who deservedly halved the deficit before the break.
Gibson first found Molloy free at the back post, forcing Bohs skipper Kelly into a Gordan Banks-esque save, and seconds later American winger teed up the clinical Brady who finished from close range.
The goal came with a cost though as captain Izzy Groves was forced off with an innocuous looking injury just before the build up with Aoife O'Connor called up to replace her in the middle.
The relentless pace continued into the second half as both sides refused to give an inch in a breathless encounter that began resembling something of a basketball game.
Minutes after the restart, Bohs thought they had restored their two-goal lead when a lightning quick break ended with McKevitt being through on goal, latching on to Hannah Healy's through ball. Megan Plaschko raced off her line to smother the ball but the Bohs right winger poked the ball towards goal, and it was finished by McEvoy. Howevr, she had strayed offside.
Knowing that every point is crucial in the title run-in, and with Shelbourne playing a day later at home to Waterford, The Town poured forward once again forcing an almighty goalmouth scramble that saw Alexis Strickland almost bundle home but the ball was cleared off the line by Lisa Murphy.
Roared on by the boisterous and drum-bashing travelling support, Athlone continued to press but were constantly frustrated by the resolute Bohs' rear-guard who kept them at bay for large spells.
Having put in a heroic effort to hold on to their lead, the tiring hosts were eventually undone with just six minutes of normal time remaining.
Player of the match Gibson was direct again, running at right-back Power and standing up a deliciously inviting cross to the back post that was met flush by Molloy to make it 2-2.
There was huge controversy in the 90th minute when Bohs substitute Hannah O'Brien sharply turned Natalie McNally and appeared to be bundled over only for referee Kate O'Brien pointing for a corner as both sides were forced to settle for a point.
Bohemians: Rachael Kelly; Sarah Power, Roisin McGovern, Lisa Murphy, Katie Lovely (Michelle Muddiman, 73): Fiona Donnelly, Aoibhe Brennan; Sarah McKevitt (Hannah O'Brien, 60), Hannah Healy, Leiagh Glennon (Emma Gaughran, 60', Lillian Rusher, 81) ; Alannah McEvoy (Savannah Kane, 73').
Athlone Town: Megan Plaschko; Kellie Brennan, Kayleigh Shine, Natalie McNally, Shauna Brennan: Izzy Groves (Aoife O'Connor 43, Hazel Donegan, 77), Sarah Rice; Roisin Molloy (Isabel Ryan, 90+3), Alexis Strickland, Madison Gibson; Kelly Brady.
Referee: Kate O'Brien.