Athlone Town 1 Longford Town 1

THE woodwork deprived Athlone of bragging rights in the midlands derby as they had to settle for a point at Lissywollen.

Longford took a somewhat fortuitous lead seven minutes before the break.

Athlone goalkeeper Michael Schlingermann slipped when charging out of his goal to make a clearance. The ball ran kindly for Lee Roche who chipped home sublimely from over 30 yards.

The home side were level on 74 minutes. Longford keeper Paul Hunt initially parried a shot from Mark Sherlock with his feet and Noel McGee, who recently re-signed for the club, scooped home the rebound.

Substitute Stephen Relihan was then unlucky not to have won it for Athlone on 84 minutes when his header from Declan Fallon’s cross came back off the crossbar.