Lynch fires DIT to derby tie
DIT 4-14 Athlone IT 2-8
DIT booked their place in the Sigerson Cup third round with a comprehensive win over Athlone IT at Grangegorman.
Despite losing attacker Luke Loughlin to a straight red-card in the early moments of the second half, Brian Flanagan’s side progressed to a tantalising showdown against defending champions UCD.
Following a flurry of unanswered points, DIT midfielder Seán Flanagan registered the opening goal of the contest on 12 minutes.
Offaly’s Gio Russo converted a penalty to breathe much-needed life into the Athlone challenge, but Oisín Lynch reinforced DIT’s authority with a clinical strike past Cormac Haslam. A superb Gavin Horan goal ensured the visitors were just five points in arrears (2-7 to 2-2) at the break, however, and Loughlin’s 31st-minute red card offered them a lifeline on the resumption. Yet, DIT recorded 2-5 on the bounce to make light of their numerical deficiency. A Brian Howard pass released Conlon for a 38th-minute goal and the excellent Lynch grabbed his second late on.
Athlone replied through Forde, Cian O’Dea and Bill Berry, before three points from lively sub Tom Keane eased DIT into the next phase.
Scorers – DIT: O Lynch 2-2, J Conlon 1-4, S Flanagan 1-1, T Keane 0-3, R O’Toole 0-2, M Jackson (’45’), L Loughlin 0-1 each. Athlone IT: R Forde 0-4 (3f), G Russo (pen), G Horan 1-0 each, B Berry 0-2, R Brady, C O’Dea 0-1 each.
DIT – M Jackson; J McCusker, B Power, A McGowan; D Toner, R O’Brien, L Hughes; S Flanagan, S Hurley; C Pearson, R O’Toole, B Howard; L Loughlin, O Lynch, J Conlon. Subs: T Keane for Pearson (38), K O’Gara for O’Toole (46), R Finn for Flanagan (49), S Tully for Hurley (55), F O’Shea for Howard (59).
ATHLONE IT – C Haslam; D Healy, A Cregg, D Carroll; G Horan, E O’Connor, E Tully; K Maguire, T Watts; R Forde, G Russo, D McManus; R Brady, B Berry, S Clarke. Subs: C O’Dea for Brady (h-t), E Gallagher for Clarke (57).
REF – S Mulhare (Laois).