Junior Championship

GARRYCASTLE 3-11, ATHLONE 2-14

Garrycastle welcomed Athlone in the first round of this years Junior Championship, in Garrycastle on Saturday evening.

The visitors played with the benefit of the wind in the first half and had the first score on the board although Garrycastle quickly equalised with a point from Cathal Mannion. Athlone were winning the midfield at this stage of the game, and moved into a two point lead. The Garrycastle team re-grouped, and with points from Jason Nugent and Sean Brennan, and a pointed free from Conor Cosgrove moved into the lead. Another Athlone point preceded the first Garrycastle goal of the evening, a great effort from Paul Mulvihill, following great work from Sean Brennan and Cathal Mannion. Both teams traded points, the Garrycastle score coming from a converted free by Conor Cosgrove, before a mix-up in the Garrycastle defence left an Athlone forward in on goal and he dispatched the ball to the net giving Garrycastle goalkeeper Shane Moran no chance.

The Garrycastle team responded to this setback in style, when Cathal Mannion finished a nice pass to the net. A point immediately afterwards from Jason Nugent stretched the lead.

The second half started well for Garrycastle, points from Sean Brennan and Cathal Mannion stretching the lead out to four points. Athlone narrowed the gap with a pointed free, before a lapse of concentration in the Garrycastle defence saw Athlone score their second goal. The visitors tacked on another point to take the lead, but this was soon pulled back with another Cathal Mannion point.

With quarter of an hour left, a Sean Brennan point put Garrycastle back in front, although a goal was most certainly on. A run of three unanswered points from the visitors put them back into a two point lead, before Garrycastle found the net for a third time, with Conor Cosgrove finishing off a move also involving Cathal Mannion and Eoin Monaghan. It may not have been a goal for the ages, but it put Garrycastle back in front as the clock ticked down, and the lead was stretched further with a point from Eoin Monaghan.

As normal time finished Athlone broke through and it took a fine save by Shane Moran in the Garrycastle goal to deny them a goal. In added time, Athlone tacked on two late points to leave the game all square at the end, on a score of Garrycastle 3-11, Athlone 2-14.

This was a great open game of football with two teams who turned up to play. Garrycastle will certainly have areas to improve on, but overall can be relatively pleased with this performance, and on the balance of play a draw was a fair result.

Team:

Shane Moran, Gary Mullery, Anthony Larkin, Bill Kelly, Enda Keena, Sean O'Donoghue, Neal Rattigan, Jonny Mcguire, Sean Brennan (0-3), Eoin Monaghan (0-1), Damien Rushe, Jason Nugent (0-2), Cathal Mannion (1-3), Conor Cosgrove (1-2, 0-2f), Paul Mulvihill (1-0). Subs: Paul Gunning for Jason Nugent (50 mins), Bryan McCormack for Sean O'Donoghue (56 mins).

All County League Division 1

ATHLONE 1-14, GARRYCASTLE 0-13

Garrycastle suffered their first defeat in this years ACL Division 1 at the hands of near neighbours, Athlone, in the penultimate round of the league played in Athlone on Tuesday evening.

The home team started brightly, and soon had an opening score on the board. Garrycastle responded well with two points from Ger Heneghan, the first an excellent kick from the left sideline, the second from a close in free. Garrycastle were working hard as a unit and also kicked a couple of wides before Athlone levelled the game on the 10 minute mark. The football on display was a little scrappy, but the Garrycastle team didn't mind as two further points from Conor Cosgrove (one a free), put them back in the driving seat. A potential goal opportunity was missed by Garrycastle, who then had to take a backseat as Athlone hit a purple patch, scoring three points without reply to regain the lead. The Garrycastle team regrouped, and then hit a purple patch of their own, scoring four points without reply, two frees from Conor Cosgrove, and points from play by Ger Heneghan and Mattie Guiheen finishing off a raiding run from his corner back berth. A couple of close-in frees were missed as the half came to a close, and the home team struck for the last point of the half, following a foul conceded after a short kick-out was intercepted.

The halftime score had Garrycastle ahead by two points, 0-8 to 0-6.

The second half began on a similar pattern with the teams exchanging points, the Garrycastle scores coming from Michael Monaghan and Sean Brennan. Garrycastle were on top at this stage but were wasteful of the opportunities presented to them, kicking four wides in a row, two from what looked like very scoreable frees. The home team then narrowed the gap to a single point before the game turned on its head midway through the half, when Athlone were awarded a penalty after Garrycastle goalkeeper Shane Moran was penalised for a foot block. The penalty was converted to give the home team a two point lead.

To their credit, Garrycastle responded well to this setback, and a great point from play by Alex Gardiner followed by a pointed free from Conor Cosgrove levelled the scores once more, with about 10 minutes left to play. However, instead of Garrycastle pushing on to get the win, it was the home team who took over completely, kicking 4 points without reply as the game entered its closing stages. Even though Athlone were reduced to 14 men late on, and Alex Gardiner converted a late 45 meter free, it was Athlone who closed out the scoring to take the win.

Team: Shane Moran, Anthony Larkin, John Gaffey, Mattie Guiheen (0-1), Sean Brennan (0-1), Mark McCallon, Gary McCallon, Eoin Monaghan, Doron Harte, Michael Monaghan (0-1), Conor Cosgrove (0-5, 0-4f), Tom O'Halloran, James Sheerin, Alex Gardiner (0-2, 0-1f), Ger Heneghan (0-3, 0-2f). Subs: Jonny McGuire for James Sheerin (48 mins), Jason Nugent for Conor Cosgrove (54 mins), Neal Rattigan for Sean Brennan (58 mins).

Garrycastle GAA Club Lotto

The Lotto numbers for Monday June 11th 2018 were 7, 18, 19, 28. There was no Jackpot winner. There were two Match-3 winners, each of whom receives €50. Sean Connell, AIT and Martin McEnroe, Baylough. The Jackpot next week is €9,250.

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