Dundalk narrow the gap on Athlone - November 24, 2000
Dundalk 3 Athlone 0
New boy Eoin Mullen was the hero at Oriel Park last night as Dundalk became the first team this season to beat high-flying Athlone Town.
The Co. Louth side knew that defeat would have left them eleven points behind the leaders and virtually out of the running for the title. Last night's result means instead that Athlone are just five points clear and Dundalk have opened a four-point gap on third-placed Waterford.
With Mullen in command at the back, Athlone's 19-goal striker, Andy Myler, found his supply lines cut off. And when Myler came off injured after 68 minutes with Dundalk already 2-0 up, the leaders knew it wasn't going to be their night.
Donal Broughan had put Dundalk ahead in the 17th minute, firing home after a free kick was rolled to him on the edge of the Athlone box.
Crucially, the home side struck again two minutes before half time. Martin Reilly played Anto Reilly through and, though 'keeper Gary Connaughton parried the first attempt, there was nothing he could do about the rebound.
Dense fog descended in the second half and at times it looked as though the match would have to be abandoned - but that would have been rough justice on Dundalk, who made it 3-0 in the dying minutes when Martin Reilly snapped up another Gary Connaughton parry.
Dundalk: McKenna, Hill, Mullen, Broughan, Gollogley, Dunne, Byrne, M Reilly, Ward, O'Dowd, A Reilly
Sub: Flanigan for Ward 86
Goals: Broughan 17, A Reilly 43, M Reilly 87
Athlone: Connaughton, Fitzell, O'Brien, Frawley, McCormack, Connolly, Kelly, Harte, Myler, Mullen, Collins
Subs: Molloy for Collins 45, Carberry for Myler 68
Referee: J Breen (Dublin