Athlone Town and Cobh Ramblers have played out a 0-0 draw in what was the Midlander’s final home game of the season. The opening quarter of the game featured very little action, as both team seemed content in feeling out their opponents. Cobh were
Athlone Town and Cobh Ramblers have played out a 0-0 draw in what was the Midlander’s final home game of the season.
The opening quarter of the game featured very little action, as both team seemed content in feeling out their opponents. Cobh were keeping the ball well, while Athlone were attempting to hit striker McCullough with long diagonal passes.
A defensive mix up from a corner between Athlone goalkeeper Darcy Lawless and defender Ciaran Grogan almost allowed Cobh to open the scoring in the 28th minute, but Can Leanord’s acrobatic effort went just over the bar.
The hosts nearly took the lead themselves just before the stroke of halftime, when Shane Stokes struck the crossbar directly from a corner, leaving goalkeeper Paul Hunt stranded before the ball rebounded off the woodwork and went out of play.
The opening period of the second half was once again quite uneventful, as both sides took time to grow back into the game. Another mix up in the Athlone defence almost handed Cobh the lead in the 68th minute, but a heroic clearance off the line from Jail Broderick kept the game on level terms.
A long-range strike from Leanord forced Lawless into a stunning save to stop a ball that was destined for the top corner. Athlone began applying pressure as the game entered its closing stages, hoping to grab their first win in what was their final home game of the season.
Substitute Ollie Hamzat showed some excellent pace during a fantastic solo run down the right wing, with his cross falling to the feet of Kyle Hogan who found himself in plenty of space in the area, but he could only turn his shot wide when he really should have converted.
Lawless was once again called into action with five minutes to go, with yet another Leanord strike being tipped over the bar. In an exciting finish, neither team were able to make the breakthrough with the game finishing on level terms.
