IFC Athlone 1-16 Ballymore 0-07
Athlone earned their second victory in six days in the 2015 Intermediate Football Championship following a well merited win over Ballymore in Hogan Park, Moate on Sunday evening, 16th August. For the second match in a row, the lads were slow out of the traps and conceded the first point from a free. However a fine point from play from John Egan sandwiched between scores from placed balls from Noel Mulligan and Ray Connellan settled the lads down and a further 45 from Noel left the scores at 0-04 to 0-03 mid-way through the first half. Athlone started to move the ball more quickly at this point and scored two fine points from play through Jordan Marshment and John Stapleton before the icing was put on the cake as John Egan finished a fine move to the net with a little help from the post. At half time the score stood at 1-06 to 0-04 and the Athlone supporters breathed a little easier. As with the previous round the lads pushed on after restart and tacked on three scores from play through Charlie McMickan (2) and John Egan. However, the defence coughed up two frees that were duly dispatched between the posts. Despite these scores the boys kicked on and finished the game by outscoring their opponents seven to one in the final quarter. This period of the game showed the high levels of fitness in the side as both corner backs Eoin Maher and Fergal Murray bombed forward to score (both off their left foot) but the pick of the scoring came from substitute John Connellan as he took two lovely scores off his weaker side to mark a fine return from injury. The lads were rightly happy with their lot at the long whistle and with 1-13 scored from play and eleven names on the score sheet there were plenty of positives. But they know they have to take each game as it comes and know that tougher challenges await in the coming weeks.
The Athlone team on the night was: Darren Costello, Eoin Maher (0-01), Damien Kelly, Fergal Murray (0-01), Daniel Lynam, Noel Mulligan (0-2, 1f, '45), Matthew Darling, John Stapleton (0-1), Jack Quinn (0-1), Dylan Lynch, Jordan Marshment (0-1), Stephen Ward (0-1), John Egan (1-3), Ray Connellan (0-1 f) and Charlie McMickan (0-2). Subs used: Paul Bannon and John Connellan (0-2).
IFC Athlone 0-16 Tubberclair 1-07
Athlone made it three wins from three in the 2015 Intermediate Football Championship following a deserved win over Tubberclair in Hogan Park, Moate on Tuesday evening last. The win however came at a cost with goal keeper Conal Sheeran removed from the pitch on a stretcher having sustained a serious knee injury following an innocuous looking challenge late in the second half. We wish Conal well in his recovery and hope to see him in sky blue sooner rather than later. The game started in a low key manner as the crowds were still making their way in for the early throw in and it was Tubberclair who raised the first white flag with a fine point from midfield. This would be the only time that Athlone were behind in the contest and following a five minute "settling in" period the Blues finally registered their first score with a 45 from Noel Mulligan. The teams then traded points before a Ray Connellan free and a sweet point from John Egan put Athlone two in front. The rest of the half was a tense affair as scoring chances went a-begging for both sides with Tubberclair guilty of some poor placed ball misses. At the half time whistle each team had tacked on two further points each to leave the score 0-06 to 0-04.
Whatever was said in the dressing room at half time seemed to have the desired effect on the Athlone lads as they hit the ground running and tacked on four quick-fire points within five minutes of the restart. Two scores from play from Ray Connellan (fist) and John Stapleton were book ended by two frees from the deadly accurate boot of Noel Mulligan. This left six points between the teams and seemed to knock the stuffing out of the Tubberclair lads. However a well taken score from the Tubberclair corner forward seemed to rouse them but just as their confidence seemed to be returning, Jordan Marshment grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and kicked a hat-trick of points of the highest quality, one from the right, one from the left and one from dead centre. The contest was effectively over at this point as there was eight points between the teams and Athlone were dominating possession. It was at this point, however, that Conal sustained his injuries and the sight of their stricken colleague as he received prolonged attention from the medics seemed to knock the lads off their stride and when play resumed they were very lucky not to concede a goal, only for Darren Costello to make his first meaningful contribution by parrying a shot out for a 45 that was duly dispatched over the bar. Two more frees from the ever reliable Noel Mulligan were followed by the only major of the game as a loose ball from the advancing Athlone half back line was launched in to the Athlone square where the ball was bundled to the net as the exposed full back line back tracked. A final free from Noel brought his personal tally to six points and left the final score 0-16 to 1-07. Overall, there were many positives to be taken from the game, particularly the second half display where the lads notched up ten points but the lads will know that there will have to be improvements as they enter the business end of the championship.
The Athlone team on the night was: Conal Sheeran, Eoin Maher, Damien Kelly, Fergal Murray, Daniel Lynam, Noel Mulligan (0-6, 0-5f, 0-1 '45), Matthew Darling, John Stapleton (0-1), Paul Bannon, Stephen Ward, Jordan Marshment (0-4), John Egan (0-1), Ray Connellan (0-4, 0-2f), Jack Quinn & Charlie McMickan. Subs used: Darren Costello for Conal Sheeran.
U14 Boys
Championship Div 2 Result
Athlone 5-11 Lilliput Gaels 4-12
U10 Boys
Our U10s made the trip to Tyrrellspass for a blitz involving the hosts, Ballynacaragy, Millmore Gales and Mullingar Shamrocks. Unfortunately the summer holidays decimated our squad and we could only tog out 14 players on the night. However the display the lads gave was very impressive, particularly in the first game against Shamrocks where their passing and movement was exceptional. The second game against Ballynacaragy was an equally impressive display as both sides went toe to toe with each other for the half hour. At the final whistle it was two tired bunches of players that shook hands to bring the curtain down on the last blitz of the year before the finals night in Mullingar in September. Thanks to Paul McGivney and his crew for being excellent hosts. The small but very capable Athlone panel on the night were: Luke Farrell, Cillian Geary, Josh Kenny, Darragh Lough, Evan McMickan, Dano McMonagle, Owen McNamara, Kian Mitchell, Tiernan Mitchell, Luke Nicholson, Luke O'Connell, Jason Ukatu, Shane Wheatley and Luke Whelan.
Underage football continues every Sunday morning at 11.30am. This is for boys and girls all ages and all abilities. Come along on Sunday or contact David O Connell at 087 2397519.
Lotto Results:
There was no winner of this weeks €1,650 jackpot.
The numbers drawn were 6-14-17-27.
There were 2 match 3 winners.
Breda Lafferty c/o Andy O Sullivan.
Michael Heavin c/o Mags Daly.
This weeks jackpot will be €1,800.
Congratulations and best wishes to Paul Bannon and Anna Hynes on their recent wedding.
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