CUFL Premier West

Teams: Athlone IT 2 vs NUI Galway 0

Scorers AIT Carmine Russo, Hafeez Sholola

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The men’s first team started off their Premier Division West campaign with a very solid performance against NUI Galway. The very experienced Michael O’Connor was appointed as head coach of the AIT soccer club for the season and he will be mostly pleased with his first game in charge. The team has been supplemented this season with the addition of former Irish Schools Internationals Neil Harney, Garvan Broughal and Stephen Relihan. Liam Lynch of Longford Town has also added a new dimension to the team. The sides were level at the break but the lads had the lion’s share of the chances. Despite this NUIG did hit the post and can count themselves unlucky not to have scored. The second half began with AIT applying all the pressure and this pressure was rewarded when Hafeez Sholola was taken down for a penalty in the 55 minute. Longford Town player and soccer scholarship holder Carmine Russo confidently converted the spot kick. The second goal arrived on 65 minutes when Liam Lynch found space and expertly played Sholola straight through the heart of the NUIG defence. Sholola buried the chance and effectively killed off the game. NUIG did apply pressure as the game wore on but could not breach the home team’s rear guard. Sligo IT are next on the list and they are a side that won the CFAI Cup in 2009 by beating AIT in the semi final so a keenly contested affair is in the offing. AIT has won the last two CUFL Premier Division West titles.

Report by AIT.