It was a difficult night on Leeside.
Athlone Town endured a difficult night in the nation's second city as three first half goals put them to the sword against Cork.
Kurtis Byrne pulled one back early into the second half but it ultimately proved to be nothing more than a consolation in a 3-1 defeat.
The result will give much food for thought to Doolin, who wasted no time in making a substitution after twenty minutes following the pours defending of the opening period.
He made another change at the break introducing Stephen Meaney for Lee Duffy up top.
𝗙𝗨𝗟𝗟 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘
— Athlone Town AFC (@AthloneTownAFC) September 3, 2021
Defeat in Cork. #ATAFC pic.twitter.com/pGevlpI1w4
The result leaves the midlanders still eight points outside a playoff position.
Bray's loss in a seven goal thriller against UCD meaning the gap to the post season has not grown for now.
They do fall behind their conquerers from last night, Colin Healy's resurgent Cork City are now up to 6th in the SSE Airtricity First Division table.
Next up for Athlone Town is another difficult away trip to Bray, which now looks like a must win if they're to have any hope of making the top six.
Ronan Foxe Signs Two Year Contract With Munster
Athlone Town Travel To Bray Wanderers In First Division
Healthy Offaly 5K Series Gets Underway This Weekend
Shane Lowry Back In Action This Afternoon
Ronan Deegan Gearing Up For Second Professional Fight
Michael Milne Returns To Ireland Squad For Welsh Clash
Focus Turns To Arnold Palmer Invitational For Shane Lowry
Alex Dunne Joins Alpine Academy
CCFL: St Peter's And Willow Park Continue To Impress
Athlone Town Aiming To Kick Off New Season With Silverware
Portlaoise Panthers Suffer Home Defeat In Women's Super League
Buccaneers Suffer Heavy Defeat Away To Navan
NFL: Laois Were Superior Than Us In The Second Half - Mark McHugh
NHL: Promotion Within Touching Distance For Laois
Athlone Town Remain Unbeaten In First Division
Draw Made For Laois Senior Club Championships
Grainne Walsh Wins Bronze At Strandja Memorial Tournament
NHL: Laois Too Strong For Westmeath In Division Two
Clinical Offaly Claim First Win In National Camogie League
NHL: Relegation From Division 1A Confirmed For Offaly