Champions Galway pick Athlone apart

Galway United 6 Athlone Town 0 

Champions Galway United limbered up for their FAI Cup semi-final on Saturday week by ruthlessly dispatching an under-strength Athlone Town.

Noticeably devoid of the prowess of Frantz Pierrot and Jamar Campion-Hinds amongst others, the visitors were immediately overwhelmed.

Darren Clarke was the ringleader of the onslaught. He scored two and assisted two in an outstanding display.

The game was over as a content inside 11 minutes. Winger Clarke had a hand in all three early goals.

It was 1-0 after 71 seconds. Regan Donelon whipped in a dangerous cross. Clarke ghosted in from the back post and struck sweetly on the half-volley.

Three minutes later he nodded down an Aodh Dervin cross for Stephen Walsh who couldn’t miss from two yards.

In the 11th minute he carried and ran at a static Athlone defence. With the outside of his boot, he slipped in Rob Manley who finished with class.

United started fast again after the break. Vincent Borden volleyed home from a corner in the 47th minute to continue the rout.

The pick of the bunch came when Clarke volleyed over his shoulder from the edge of the Town box and hit the top corner.

Debutant Daire McCarthy picked out Rob Manley who poked home for the sixth in the dying minutes.

With bigger games on the horizon, the real intrigue from a home perspective was in injury watch.

Vincent Borden and Stephen Walsh both left the field seemingly in slight discomfort.

However, United were able to introduce the returning Colm Horgan and Ronan Manning from the bench for valuable minutes.

For an Athlone team occupying the last playoff berth, this chastening defeat offers a glimmer of light to midland rivals Longford Town. They can cut the gap to 5 points with a win