Athlone Town 0 Dundalk 3 A hotly disputed sending off was the critical turning point in Athlone last night as Dundalk travelled to the midlands and picked up a crucial victory thanks to three second-half goals, two from Patrick Hoban and an exquisite late strike from Richie Towell.

Athlone had goalkeeper Ryan Coulter to thank for staying in the game throughout an action-packed first half, but Tomás Connolly's decision to show a straight red card to full back Brian Shortall seven minutes before half-time was a severe blow to Athlone's chances and ultimately it left them unable to resist Dundalk's relentless pressure throughout the second half.

These two sides started and ended the night at opposite ends of the Premier Division table and while possession was evenly shared throughout the first half, Dundalk illustrated the difference in the teams in their attacking play. They looked far more potent going forward and they drew two stunning saves from Coulter in the Athlone goal inside the first 15 minutes.

Brian Gartland was the first to be denied when Coulter deflected his close-range header over the bar after just five minutes, while Kurtis Byrne looked certain to score 10 minutes later when he got a touch to Seán Gannon’s low drive across the area. Again Coulter did incredibly well to deny Dundalk the lead, showing incredible reflexes as he got down low to smother Byrne’s effort.

Dundalk continued to press but Athlone were right in the tie up until the 38th minute, when Shortall and Dane Massey clashed on the stand side of the ground and Shortall appeared to raise his arm and strike Massey in the face. The Athlone players and management strongly contested the decision but Tomás Connolly was decisive and he instantly brandished his red card in Shortall’s direction.

Athlone made a brief surge before half-time, spurred on by their perceived sense of injustice, and they produced their best chance of the game on the stroke of half time when Derek Doyle got on the end of a Kealan Dillon cross but pushed his effort wide.

Tougher task

Their task became much tougher immediately after the interval when Hoban collected a right wing cross at the far post and crashed the ball into the roof of the net, while the same player effectively ended the tie 10 minutes later when he showed real composure in the box to slip the ball underneath Coulter for his 19th of the season. Athlone continue to battle gamely in a bid to salvage something from the tie but they were now badly exposed at the back every time they conceded possession and Dundalk could easily have added several more goals on the counterattack.

Substitute Donal McDermott was particularly unlucky not to get on the scoresheet when he was sent clean through with just the keeper to beat, but his meek attempt at a lob was easily parried by Coulter.

When the third goal finally came, it was a strike of real beauty, delivered by Dundalk talisman Towell and supplied yet again by Meenan.

Meenan’s left wing corner fell perfectly for the Dundalk midfielder and from the edge of the penalty area, he placed a sidefooted volley into the bottom corner of the net, rounding off a fantastic night for the large Dundalk contingent in attendance.