Athlone find that extra gear

Sigerson Cup Athlone IT 3-11 Dublin University 2-2: While Offaly supporters may have consigned themselves to life without their long time servant, Vinnie Claffey, the former forward has not rested on his laurels.

Claffey, who finally hung up his boots after 17 years as a county footballer, patrolled the line in Santry yesterday with his Athlone team progressing through to the next round of the Sigerson cup.

Dublin University despite the input of former Dublin forward Charlie Redmond and Tom Smith registered just one point from play.

The departure of Dublin's Barry Kennedy and Cavan's Michael Lyng, from last year's team, left them short on firepower up front.

The game was barely minutes old when following a free from Eamon McCormack, Athlone followed up with the first goal of the game.

It was a good piece of link-up play with John Devane releasing John Reynolds. Reynolds was unsuccessful with his initial shot with Mark Mullaly doing well to block the Offaly man's shot.

Reynolds was successful with the follow up with Devane registering a score soon afterwards to open a five-point lead for the midlanders.

Trinity eventually registered their first point from play on 17 minutes through Francis Kelly and could have added a goal had Eoin Farrell not tipped a Cian O'Moran effort away for a 45.

Following that Athlone posted three unanswered points to leave them ahead 1-5 to 0-1 at the break.

Trinity reshuffled their team for the second half and after the two sides had traded points, Trinity put themselves back in contention when Waterford under-21 player Bob Costello found the net on 37 minutes.

But it was to prove a false dawn with Athlone's incisive play insuring two further goals from Eamon McCormack and Seán Higgins.

Higgins' elegantly finished score, coming as it did after Enda King had netted another goal for Trinity, was the one that eventually killed off the game.

It left the score at 3-8 to 2-2 and Athlone, who had found another gear after some wayward first half shooting, finished the game off with scores from Alan Reynolds and a brace from Devane.

DUBLIN UNIVERSITY: M Mullaly; P Banbrick, R Lynch, L Naughton; K Murphy, P Conlon, C O'Moran; D Lowe, B Mannion; F Kelly (0-1), E King (1-0), M O'Floinn; D Dempsey (0-1, free), P Connolly, B Costello (1-0). Subs: J Hennessy for Lowe (half-time), S Feeney for Naughton 49 mins.

ATHLONE IT: E Farrell; D McInerney, B McGrath, S Higgins (1-0); V Ryan (0-1), J Kavanagh, A Reynolds (0-1); D Blake, J Boyle; D O'Brien, R Clyne, J Reynolds (1-3; one free); E McCormack (1-1, one free), J Devane (0-4, two frees), D Glennon (0-1). Subs: T Phelan for Clyne (55 mins), P Smith for Glennon (59 mins).

Referee: C Reilly (Meath).