Dundalk travelled to the midlands hoping to secure a return to the top flight but an Aaron Connolly screamer for Athlone Town means the destiny of this year's SSE Airtricity Men's First Division title is far from certain.
Ciarán Kilduff’s side were hoping for a favour from Bray Wanderers in St Colman’s Park knowing that a victory in Athlone Town Stadium would secure them automatic promotion.
Things started brilliantly for the Louth men when an early goal for the Seagulls, coupled with Declan McDaid’s seventh-minute opener against his old side, meant that they were on their way back to the Premier Division in the live table.
However, with Cobh Ramblers turning things around to win 3-1 and Connolly’s brilliant 72nd-minute free-kick, the gap is now just four points with two games to go.
Dundalk can still win the league next weekend with a victory at home to Finn Harps but if they fail to get the job done there then they will potentially have to travel to Cobh on the final day for a title shoot-out that they will not want.
Aaron Connolly take a bow!🚀
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) October 3, 2025
ATH 1-1 DUN pic.twitter.com/aEiQKolHsk
Ian Ryan’s side – without a win since beating Finn Harps in Ballybofey in May – were full value for their point. While the bottom side lacked any threat in the opening period, they used the force of Storm Amy to their advantage in the second half to produce a number of big scares.
Indeed, Dundalk will rue not adding to their early goal in the first half having failed to seriously trouble Andrew Stewart Trainor after that.
The Lilywhites got off to a dream start when McDaid – who scored for the Midlanders in their last home win against UCD back on March 14th – collected a pass from Shane Tracey at the edge of the box before drilling a shot to the bottom right hand corner.
Despite the early lead and having the elements in their favour, the visitors failed to really build on it in the period after that with Gbemi Arubi failing to hit the target on the stretch from Conor O’Keeffe’s cross on 18 minutes before Eoin Kenny had a goal ruled out for a hand ball a minute later.
Their next attempt wouldn’t arrive until the 29th minute when a short corner was worked to McDaid on the right but on this occasion his left foot shot was straight down the throat of Trainor.
Kenny then went close twice before half-time, firstly heading onto the roof of the net from Andy Paraschiv’s cross on 43 minutes before being denied at point blank range by Trainor in stoppage time.
With Storm Amy at their backs in the second half, Athlone began to threaten for the first time. Two minutes after the restart Reece Webb’s free kick was met by the head of Dylan Hand, whose header crept just wide.
Peter Cherrie, who turned 42 during the week, then had to be alert to make a number of saves in quick succession. Firstly he turned substitute Jason Oyenuga’s effort around the post after he had found space on the left before twice denying Zach Lawless, firstly from a shot just inside the box and then from a header from a deep free kick.
Dundalk then had a couple of chances of their own with Aodh Dervin’s effort from range beating Trainor on 61 minutes only to come back off the inside of the post.
McDaid then had another effort from a short corner saved by the keeper.
The visitors were then rattled on 72 minutes when half-time sub Connolly sent a thunderbolt of a free kick to the top left hand corner from right on the edge of the box after Vinnie Leonard had fouled Derinsola Adewale.
Both sides hustled and bustled after that in search of a winner but the best chance fell Dundalk’s way in the sixth minute of stoppage time when Norman Garbett’s cross from the left was headed agonisingly wide by Kenny.
Cobh’s win meant that wouldn’t have been enough to secure the title anyway. All focus now turns to Oriel Park next Friday when Finn Harps come to town hoping to spoil the party.
Athlone Town: Andrew Stewart Trainor; Reece Webb, Conor Quinn, Cole Omorehiomwan, Dylan Hand, Derinsola Adewale (Oisin Duffy 87); Zach Lawless, Junior Thiam (Jason Oyenuga HT), Daniel McKenna (Aaron Connolly HT), Gideon Tetteh (Adam Lennon 78); Ben Feeney (Colm Doyle 78).
Dundalk: Peter Cherrie; Conor O’Keeffe, Mayowa Animasahun, Vinnie Leonard, JR Wilson; Aodh Dervin, Shane Tracey (Harry Groome 68); Eoin Kenny, Andy Paraschiv (Norman Garbett 68), Declan McDaid (Daryl Horgan 75); Gbemi Arubi (Dean Ebbe 84).
Referee: Ryan Maher.
