Brave Conn Rangers sent packing by the champions
Connacht Cup champions Athenry survived a scare by Conn Rangers.
Conn Rangers saw their Connacht Cup journey at the hands of Galway giants Athenry with a narrow 2-1 defeat after a hard fought encounter in Mount Falcon last Saturday.
If Athenry go on to retain the cup they won last season, they will look back at this game as one real battle. The first real chance came the way of Cathal Fahy after 20 minutes but ballooned his effort over, much to relief of Brian McMahon after his poor kickout led to the opening.
Liam Durkan, Eoin Prendergast, Conor Flynn and Adam Gallagher all missed glorious chances in the first half to put the hosts ahead and ten minutes before half-time, Athenry showed the ruthlessness that make them provincial champions. Cian McHale gave a foul away 25 yards from goal and Aidan Coyle scored a fine free kick over the wall and into the bottom corner to out Athenry in front.
The visitors used all their experience to slow the game down in the second half to frustrate and nullify the Conn attack. On 65 minutes, David McHale was denied by some brilliant defending by Dan Cunningham while Adam Gallagher saw a deflected shot loop inches wide.
As Rangers continued to push, Athenry got a second goal on the break as the broke down the wing before a cross to Kody McCann was drilled home.
Conn pulled one back in injury-time through a Conor Flynn penalty after Liam Durkan was brought down but Athenry saw them game out well.
