Junior Championship Quarter-Final
Athlone 1-21 Delvin 2-10 (AET)
Our junior men's team qualified for the club's first junior championship semi-final in a long time, with a hard-fought extra time victory over a brave Delvin side in Kinnegad on Wednesday evening.
Athlone started very brightly and, on the back of some superb fielding by Diarmuid Martin in midfield, raced into a five point lead with fine scores from Benny Martin, Darren Costello, Sean Dowd, Richie Greene and Joe Fallon.  The sides then exchanged frees and Luke Kelly pulled off a couple of fine saves, before Delvin got back into the game with a goal from a penalty.  Further points from Joe Fallon and Michael Doolan restored Athlone's lead, but several other chances to stretch the lead were squandered, and they were dealt a major blow on the stroke of half time when a high ball into the square was flicked to the net for Delvin's second goal to leave the sides level at the break, 0-8 to 2-2.

Rocked by this late goal, Athlone started the second half nervously and trailed to a Devlin '45 before Dermot Bannon finally opened their account after 10 minutes play.  Points from Sean Dowd and Richie Greene were answered by similar Delvin scores, as the sides went tit-for-tat until the 50th minute, when a quick brace from Greene, followed by another point by Darren Costello, seemed to put Athlone into a winning position.  Unfortunately, with the finish line in site, the nerves returned and another Delvin point left just two between them as the game entered injury time.  It still looked like Delvin would need a goal to salvage something from the game, but with the Athlone defence falling very deep to try to prevent this, they were able to pick off two excellent long range points, the second with the final kick of the game, to force extra time.  The score at the end of normal time was 0-14 to 2-8.

It would have been understandable if Athlone were deflated after having victory snatched from their grasp, but they began extra time with great purpose and Darren Costello put them back in front with a free in the opening minute.  Athlone then got what was to prove to be the game's crucial score when Costello cut in along the end line and sent the ball across for Declan Byrne to fist home from close range.  A Delvin free kept them in touch, but a superb solo effort from Richie Greene gave Athlone a four point advantage at the mini-break (1-16 to 2-9).  The same player added two more fine scores at the start of the second extra time period, and despite another Delvin free, Athlone's fitness and strong bench told as Delvin tired and further points from David Cleary, Richie Greene and Declan Byrne gave them a slightly flattering 1-21 to 2-10 win to set up a TEG Cusack Park semi-final against Multyfarnham.

Athlone:  Luke Kelly, Shane Galvin, Andy Lynam, Eoin Fahey, Eoin Jordan, Emmet Collins, Michael Doolan (0-1), Diarmuid Martin, Colin O'Leary, Sean Dowd (0-2), Dermot Bannon (0-1), Darren Costello (0-3), Joe Fallon (0-2), Benny Martin (0-1), Richie Greene (0-9) Subs Used:  Rory Donnellan, Shane Kilroy-Glynn, Luke Dully, Declan Byrne (1-1), David Cleary (0-1), Aidan St John.

U21 Championship Quarter-Final
Athlone 4-6 St Loman's 1-11
Four excellent first half goals, including two in a minute in injury time, paved the way for our under 21s to defeat St Loman's of Mullingar under the Páirc Chiaráin floodlights on Friday, as they emulated our junior and minor teams by qualifying for the championship semi-final, where they will face Rosemount-Castledaly. Athlone opened the scoring in the second minute with a Jack Quinn point, before Josh Beaumont doubled the lead with a deflected effort after a Richie Greene shot had come back off the crossbar.  St Loman's brought themselves level with two points of their own, but Jack Quinn put Athlone back in front with the first goal of the evening, when he finished off a good move with neat finish.  The visitors replied again with a brace of scores to reduce the gap to the minimum, and although Josh Beaumont replied with his second point, the Mullingar men took the lead for the first time with a well-taken goal of their own.  The home side responded to this setback in the best possible fashion, however, when Kieran Colclough finished off another fine move with a powerful shot for his side's second goal.  Another Quinn point, sandwiched between two further Lomans' points, meant that Athlone led by a point as the game entered first half injury time, but they got a huge boost with two goals in the final minute.  First Beaumont fisted home from close range after being set up by Quinn and then Daniel Reid blasted to the net to give the Shannonsiders a scarcely deserved seven point half-tim3 lead, 4-4 to 1-6.

Boosted by their strong finish to the first half, Athlone began the second period well, but were guilty of going for more goals, when points to keep the scoreboard ticking over might have been the more sensible option and instead it was St Loman's who opened the scoring with a couple of points.  Richie Greene did finally open Athlone's second half account with a clever close range finish, but the forwards were not finding the space that they had in the first half.  Fortunately, the home defence was also denying St Loman's any clear scoring opportunities, and both sides added only more point each, Athlone's from a Richie Greene free, in the following 20 minutes.  St Loman's did add two points very late on to reduce the gap to four points, but they were unable to create the goal chance they needed and Athlone held on for the win.

Athlone:  Conor Devaney, James Finlass, Matthew Darling, Shane Galvin, Michael Doolan, Stephen Ward, Shane Allen, Daniel Reid (1-0), Fionn Dowd, Donagh Prendergast, Jack Quinn (1-2), Kieran Colclough (1-0), Josh Beaumont (1-2), Diarmuid Martin, Richie Greene (0-2)  Subs:  Mark Egan, Benny Martin, Sean Dowd, Tadhg Prendergast, Patrick McGettigan.

U12 Girls
Congratulations to our U12 Girls who defeated Caulry to reach the County Final on Saturday, 30th September, place and time to be confirmed.  Well done girls. #UpTheBlue

Underage football for boys and girls ages 4-12 continues on Sunday morning at 11.30am. New players all abilities welcome or contact David O'Connell at 087 2397519.

Lip Sync Battles 2017
Following the hugely successful Lip Sync Battles last year we are hosting the event again on Saturday, 25th November in the Sheraton Hotel Athlone.  There are still a few places remaining so if you would like to take part or to sponsor an act or to help out in anyway, please contact Teresa at 087 6799472 or Cora at 086 8132090 any member of the Committee.

Lotto Results:
There was no Winner of this week's €7,650 jackpot
The Numbers Drawn were: 5-10-25-30
There was 4 match 3 winners;
Mark McBride c/o Amby Fogarty
Margaret & Frances c/o Michael Collins
Alice Dowler c/o Bingo
Seamus Downes c/o S Downes
Next week's jackpot is €7,800.

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

Vote of Sympathy:
The Durney Family, Cornafulla.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anam.

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