Senior Football Championship
Athlone v Bunbrosna
Athlone Senior footballers suffered their fifth defeat of this year's championship when they went down to an agonising one point defeat to Bunbrosna in Cusack Park on Friday night.  This result, in a game that Athlone will feel that they really should have won, consigns us to a relegation playoff against neighbours Castledaly at a date and time to be announced.

The opening exchanges were even and tit-for-tat scoring saw Bunbrosna lead by 0-4 to 0-3 after 15 minutes, Athlone's scores coming from the returning John Egan, Joe Fallon and Ray Connellan.  Mickey Greene then showed great determination to force home a goal under great pressure, before the sides swapped points (Athlone's from Ray Connellan) to see Athlone ahead by 1-4 to 0-5 with five minutes left in the first half.  Bun regained the lead with a goal of their own but a point from John Egan with the last kick of the half saw the sides go in level at the break, 1-5 apiece.

Bunbrosna opened the second half scoring in the first minute, before a sustained period of Athlone pressure saw several chances to equalise missed.  Instead it was Bunbrosna who got the next score after six minutes to lead by two.  Disaster then struck Athlone when Bun scored two goals in a minute, just as they had done the league game between the sides, and Athlone found themselves trailing by eight points with 20 minutes remaining.  Noel Mulligan pulled back a point from a 45 but another Bunbrosna point restored the eight point gap with 15 minutes to play.

Athlone had recovered from a similar deficit at the same stage of the teams' group match last season and John Egan raised hopes that lightning could strike twice when he finished off a superb team move to the net to leave five between them with 10 to play.  At this stage, Athlone were dominant around the middle of the field and this paid off when John Stapleton then scored an absolute belter of a goal to leave just two points between them.  This gap was wiped out by points from another returning émigré, John Connellan, and his brother Ray and with the game entering stoppage time, Athlone looked like being only winners.  Athlone continued to dominate at midfield but the lead score never game, despite several chances.  From the last of these, two minutes into injury time, Bunbrosna's keeper was able to gather a shot which dropped short and start a move which swept downfield and which ended with corner forward Fintan Finnan swinging over a magnificent point to restore their lead.  There was still time for Athlone to launch one more attack but disciplined Bun defending saw them force a turnover before the final whistle saw them victorious on a scoreline of 3-9 to 3-8.

Scorers: John Egan 1-2, Ray Connellan 0-3, Mickey Greene 1-0, John Stapleton 1-0, Joe Fallon 0-1, Noel Mulligan 0-1, John Connellan 0-1

Team:  Jason Merrigan, Eoghan O'Reilly, Noel Mulligan, Fergal Murray, Stephen Ward, Damien Kelly, Eoin Maher, John Stapleton, Paul Bannon, Glenn Costello, Jordan Marshment, John Egan, Joe Fallon, Michael Greene, Ray Connellan. Subs used: Seamus Byrne, John Connellan, Danny Lynam, Charlie McMickan.  Other Subs: Conor Devaney, Brendan Bannon, Gary Quinn, Dermot Piggot, Aidan St. John, Emmet Kiely, Dylan Lynch, Andy Lynam, Conal Sheeran.

U16 Girls
Our U16 girls played their first group match of the league Tuesday in Streamstown against Kilbeggan/St. Josephs.  A great performance was displayed by all, with Athlone coming out triumphant on a scoreline of 4-11 to Kilbeggan/St Josephs 3-12.
Our U16 girls followed on to play Rochfortbridge in the second round of the leage on Thursday evening last.  This was a superb performance by our girls, however after a great comeback in the second half, we just fell short, and lost on a scoreline of Athlone 4-4 Rochfortbridge 4-8.
Our next U16 league match against Garrycastle is on Saturday, 6th September.

U14 Girls
U14 Girls Division 4 county championship quarter final V Tyrellpass to be played at 6:30 on Thursday 28th in Tyrellpass. Please support.

Gaelic 4 Mothers & Others
"Gaelic 4 Mothers & Others" returns after a short summer break on Monday 1st September at 7pm, with registration at 6:45. New members always welcome.  We are delighted to have Lidl on board sponsoring refreshments for all of our training sessions . Our 7 week training programme promises fun, fitness and the opportunity to learn new skills and is free for all Athlone GAA members. Call Trisha 0861751167 for more info.

U14 Boys
Championship
Athlone 1-09 Caulry 0-11
Athlone travelled to Caulry last Thursday evening for this rearranged championship match and what a game of football we had.  This game had everything from skill, passion, determination, hard hitting, great saves and great score taking.  With Caulry playing a defensive game scores were hard to get but the Athlone lads went in at half time in the lead, the Caulry keeper making some great saves. In the second half it was all out attack from the Caulry lads but a great defensive display by the Athlone lads and some great saves from John Duddy kept the Athlone team level with a couple of minutes to go.  With time almost up and the game level the Athlone lads had one more attack and got a free out on the sideline.  Up stepped Josh Beaumont and kicked as good a point as will be seen in any game this year to win the game for the Athlone lads.   The Athlone management will be very happy with this display as when the pressure was put on their team the lads came up with the answers.

Panel for Athlone:  John Duddy, Killian O Sullivan, James Finlass, Kevin Cleary, Deba Okodugha, Conor Glennon, Andrew Beaumont, Kevin Rowan, Kieran Colclough, Anthony Johnson, Shane Allen, Donagh Prendergast, Josh Beaumont, Mark Tallon, Enda Tynan Daly, Paddy Doyle, Conor Rushe.

U12 Boys
Athlone v Moate
The meeting of both Under 12 teams from Athlone and Moate was a very interesting encounter.  Moate started on the better foot scoring early points though Athlone held firm and began to show the real depth of the team with great team play and great displays of the art of tackling.  Throughout the match there were glimpses of maturity resonating with players showing off skills beyond their years.  In the end it was a great exhibition of football with Athlone coming out on top with a win and it seems very promising at the underage scene for the years to come.

Panel for Athlone:  Robert Cuffe, Ronan DiTullio, Chulainn Dowd, Sean Duffy, Emmet Edmundson, Pearse Edmundson, Evan Farrell, Shaun Fox, Bryan Hughes, Ben Killian, Israel Kimazo, Fergal Lennon, Eamon Martin, Dylan McGowan, Conor McNamara, Ryan O'Connor, Shane Reid, Raphael Salaja, Liam West.

Sunday Morning
Training for boys and girls aged 5 upwards continues every Sunday morning from 11.30-12.30
Under 12, Under 10 & Under 8 Boys also train on Thursdays at 6.30pm
Under 12, Under 10 & Under 8 Girls also train on Tuesdays at 7pm
New players, all abilities welcome.
Just come along to Athlone GAA on any of the above days or call 087 6799472.

Club Gear
We have tracksuits, Marley half zip training tops or full kits in stock.  Please contact 087 6799472 or see www.athlone.gaa.ie for price list and order form.

Athlone GAA Bingo
Bingo take place every Thursday at 8.30pm in the Clubhouse.  Loads of cash prizes. Everyone Welcome.

Lotto Results:
There was no winner of this weeks €10,800 jackpot.
The numbers drawn were 1 - 2 - 19 - 29.
There were 2 match 3 winners:-
Ber O'Sullivan c/o The Bounty
Oisin Stronge c/o Lough Ree Inn
This weeks jackpot will be €10,950.

Lotto tickets can be purchased online at www.athlone.gaa.ie - only €15 for ten weeks and remember if you're not in, you can't win!

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