St Josephs 1 vs 3 Temple Villa FC

Temple Villa FC travelled to Cushla, Athlone, on 17 March 2026 for their league away fixture against St Josephs, kicking off at 10:30am. The match lasted 60 minutes plus injury time, with Temple Villa emerging 3-1 winners in a contest that showcased resilience and attacking prowess.

Temple Villa lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, deploying Sam Mellet in goal. The defensive line featured Luke McCrossan at right back, Ryan Mahon and Dan Dwyer as central defenders, and Cian Buckley on the left. In midfield, Darragh Nee and Oliver Cooney operated centrally, providing both defensive cover and forward impetus. Ahead of them, Harry Donlon occupied the right attacking midfield role, Christopher Coyle played centrally behind the striker, and Tom Adamson took up the left attacking midfield position. Leading the line was Andrew Fitzpatrick as the lone striker. The substitutes named were Tiernan O'Shaughnessy and James Henson.

The match began with a dramatic early moment as Tom Adamson stepped up to take a penalty in the second minute but sent his effort high over the bar, a missed opportunity that could have set the tone for the game. Despite this setback, Temple Villa pressed forward, with Andrew Fitzpatrick testing the St Josephs goalkeeper with a shot saved in the fifth minute. Oliver Cooney also had an early attempt, but his effort flew high.

Fitzpatrick continued to look dangerous, though his next attempt in the 11th minute went wide. At the 18th minute mark, a tactical substitution saw Tiernan O'Shaughnessy replace Luke McCrossan at right back, perhaps to inject fresh energy into the defensive line. Oliver Cooney remained active, but his 21st-minute shot again sailed over the crossbar.

In a surprising reversal, McCrossan was reintroduced at right back ten minutes later, replacing O'Shaughnessy in the 28th minute, signalling a quick tactical adjustment by the manager. The first half concluded at the 30-minute mark with the score still goalless.

Early in the second half, Darragh Nee attempted a shot that went wide in the 35th minute. Shortly after, James Henson came on for Christopher Coyle in the 38th minute, indicating a midfield reshuffle. Fitzpatrick remained a threat, forcing another save in the 39th minute. Cian Buckley’s effort in the 42nd minute drifted wide as Temple Villa sought to break the deadlock.

However, St Josephs struck first in the 43rd minute, capitalising on a defensive error from Temple Villa. A left-footed strike from outside the box found the net, putting the home side ahead. Temple Villa responded immediately with Oliver Cooney firing wide in the 44th minute. Another substitution followed as Christopher Coyle returned to the pitch, replacing Harry Donlon.

Tom Adamson continued to push forward, though his 46th-minute shot went high. The breakthrough for Temple Villa came in the 49th minute when Adamson unleashed a long-range strike, expertly assisted by Dan Dwyer’s short pass, to level the scores. This goal ignited the team’s momentum.

Oliver Cooney’s attempts in the 52nd and 56th minutes both missed the target, the latter flying high over the bar. In the 54th minute, Adamson’s shot also went wide, but the pressure was mounting. Another substitution occurred in the 56th minute as Harry Donlon replaced James Henson, restoring the right attacking midfielder to the field.

Adamson’s persistence nearly paid off again in the 57th minute when his shot was saved. Yet he was not to be denied, scoring a spectacular long-range strike with his right foot in the 59th minute to put Temple Villa ahead for the first time. He then completed his hat-trick in the 60th minute with a deft lob from outside the box, again with his right foot, sealing a commanding victory.

Temple Villa’s 3-1 win at Cushla was built on determination and attacking flair, with Tom Adamson’s hat-trick the highlight of the match. Despite an early penalty miss and a defensive lapse that allowed St Josephs to take the lead, Villa’s response was emphatic and decisive.