Athlone club notes
May 15, 2017ACFL Division 1:
Athlone 1-9 Tang 1-10
Our seniors suffered their first defeat of their league campaign when a very disappointing performance saw them lose out to neighbours Tang on miserable wet night in Páirc Chiaráin.
Athlone started brightly with two Joe Fallon points in the opening two minutes, while Sam Omukoro was unlucky to see an effort come back off the post, before the visitors settled and brought themselves level by the 10th minute. A fine solo effort from Danny Reid restored Athlone's lead, which Fallon doubled with another free, but that was to be the home side's final score of the half, while Tang struck three times in the closing minutes to leave Athlone trailing by 0-4 to 0-5 at the break.
Tang stretched their lead early in the second half with a point from a 45, but it took Athlone until midway through the half to get off the mark with a Mickey Greene point, as they missed several chances from placed balls in this period. A well-worked goal from Tang put daylight between the sides, although Luke Kelly kept Athlone in touch with a superb point with his first touch after coming on as a substitute. Paul Bannon reduced the gap further with another point, but Tang then enjoyed a purple patch with three fine points from play in a two-minute spell to stretch the six points with five minutes to play. It looked like Athlone were going to succumb to a heavy defeat, but they raised their game in the final minutes and points from Richie Greene and Luke Kelly, followed by a Danny Reid goal from close range after John Stapleton's effort had been saved, left just the minimum between the sides. Unfortunately, however, there wasn't enough time for Athlone to force an equaliser and Tang held on to win on a scoreline of 1-10 to 1-9.
Athlone: Conal Sheeran, Eoin Maher, Damo Kelly, Fergal Murray, Danny Lynam, Paul Bannon (0-1), Tom Egan, John Stapleton, Danny Reid (1-1), Sam Omukoro, Matty Darling, Shane Kilroy-Glynn, Joe Fallon (0-3), Mickey Greene (0-1), Andy Lynam Subs Used: Luke Kelly (0-2), Conor Devaney, Luke Dully, Richie Greene (0-1), Dylan Lynch
Minor League Division 1
Athlone 3-13 St. Mary's Rochfortbridge 1-10
It's 5 league wins (and 2 in the space of five days) on the spin for the minor boys as they saw off a battling St. Mary's Rochfortbridge on Sunday evening. The home side got off to a good start and early points from Luke Kelly, Josh Beaumont (2), and Sean Dowd saw them lead by 4. Rochfortbridge pulled the game back level with 4 points of their own. A point each from Shane Allen and Enda Daly put Athlone ahead again before a bullet of a goal from Josh Beaumont after a clever through ball from Mark Egan. Rochfortbridge responded with a point before a fortuitous OG gave Athlone breathing space at half time with the score 2-7 to 0-5.
Rochfortbridge were first off the mark in the first minute of the second half before a well worked point by Josh Beaumont was followed by a brilliantly taken goal from Mark Tallon after good work from Diarmuid Martin. This was followed by points from Mark Egan and a Luke Kelly free. The away side responded again with 2 points of their own, followed by a well taken penalty goal (almost saved by Rytis Liaukevicius in the Athlone nets). Athlone closed out the game with 2 points from Luke Kelly and another from Josh Beaumont to leave the final score 3-13 to 1-10.
Best for Athlone were Luke Kelly, Josh Beaumont and Donagh Prendergast. The lads play their last league game of the season at home to Rosemount on Thursday (18th May), with a lot of lads carrying injuries, the strength of the squad will be fully tested. However, 3 U16's, Eamon Martin, Andrew Beaumont, and Michael Byrne, stepped up to the plate in this game and would not look out of place in the level above their age.
Athlone Team: Rytis Liaukevicius; Joseph Devins, James Finlass, Patrick Ryan; Donagh Prendergast, Paddy McGettigan, Anthony Johnson; Diarmuid Martin, Luke Kelly (0-5); Enda Daly (0-1), Josh Beaumont (1-4), Sean Dowd (0-1); Mark Egan (0-1), Mark Tallon (1-0), Shane Allen (0-1). Subs: Eamon Martin, Andrew Beaumont, John Duddy, Aaron Forde, Michael Byrne.
Athlone 2-20 Coralstown-Kinnegad 2-9
Our minor boys got their fourth league win in a row when they defeated Coralstown-Kinnegad in a game played in perfect conditions in Kinnegad on Wednesday evening last. The home side who started the stronger with three early scores (while Athlone squandered four goal opportunities!), but Athlone eventually found their scoring boots and points from Donagh Prendergast, David Cleary and Luke Kelly had them level after 15 minutes. A very fortunate goal from a long range free from Kieran Colclough, followed by a ruthless finish by Josh Beaumont, settled the away side and four points, one each from Cleary and Mark Egan and two frees from Colclough, to three in response from the hosts left the half-time score 2-7 to 0-6.
Kinnegad scored a fortunate goal of their own within 30 seconds of the restart to pull themselves back to within four points, but Athlone replied with six points in five minutes to make the game safe. These included some brilliant scores from Enda Daly, two from Diarmuid Martin (one after making a fantastic catch), another from Colclough, and two brilliant points from Josh Beaumont after winning his own turnovers. A brace of points each from Mark Egan and Shane Allen stretched the lead even further, and despite a late Kinnegad flurry that yielded a quickfire 1-2, Athlone finished strongly with another point from Beaumont, a great effort off his left by Donagh Prendergast, and a third from wing-back by David Cleary to put the seal on a good evening's work.
The game finished 2-20 to 2-9, with 1-18 of Athlone's total coming from play. However, Athlone will be disappointed with 13 wides and some sloppy passages of play, so there is plenty that needs to be worked on in training. When the game was in the melting pot, there were some fine displays from Colclough in midfield (who gave an exhibition of high fielding), David Cleary, Joe Devins, and the ever-dangerous Josh Beaumont, while it was also good to see Sean Dowd back in blue after a long lay-off from injury. However man of the match goes to Patrick Ryan who made three courageous blocks and kept Kinnegad's danger man on the inside line quiet all game.
Athlone: John Duddy, Joseph Devins, Diarmuid Martin (0-2), Patrick Ryan, Paddy McGettigan, Shane Allen (0-2), David Cleary (0-3), Kieran Colclough (1-3), Luke Kelly (0-1), Niall Doolan, Mark Egan (0-3), Donagh Prendergast (0-2); Josh Beaumont (1-3), Enda Daly (0-1), Eamon Martin Subs used: James Finlass, Mark Tallon, Rytis Liaukevicius, Sean Dowd.
Cul Camps 2017
Official GAA Cul Camps takes place in Athlone GAA from Monday, 24th to Friday, 28th July for boys and girls age 6-13. To book online or for further information see https://www.kelloggsculcamps.gaa.ie
Underage football continues every Sunday at 11.30am. Boys and girls all ages and all abilities welcome. Come along on Sunday or contact David O'Connell at 087 2397519.
Club gear is on sale in the Clubhouse every Sunday from 11am-1pm or contact Teresa at 087 6799472.
Lotto Results:
There was no winner of this week's €4,950 jackpot.
The numbers drawn were 7-9-15-19.
There were six match three winners.
Margaret & Frances c/o Michael Collins.
Paul Coughlan c/o Brian Melinn.
Kevin Martin c/o Ritchie Daly.
Laura Fitzmaurice c/o Mags Daly.
Jackie McLoughlan c/o Liam Roper.
Andy O'Sullivan c/o A. O'Sullivan.
Next weeks jackpot will be €5,100.
Athlone GAA Bingo:
Bingo takes place in the Clubhouse every Thursday at 8.30pm. Loads of cash prizes. Everyone Welcome.
Athlone GAA Golfing Society:
The Athlone GAA Golfing Society travelled to Portumna Golf Club on Saturday last. There was a great turnout on a beautiful golf course.
The following are the prizewinners.
1st Prize: Rory Quinn(40pts).
2nd Prize: Danny O`Connor(38pts).
3rd Prize: Patrick Melinn(37pts).
4th Prize: Brian Melinn(36pts).Ladies Prize: Lizzy O'Sullivan(36pts).
1st Nine: Denis O'Sullivan(20pts).
2nd Nine: Sheila Geraghty (19pts).
Visitors Prize: Alacoque O`Connor(29pts).
2's Prize: Kay Vaughan.
The next outing will be held at Nenagh Golf Club on Saturday, 10th June.
Vote of Sympathy:
The Warren Family, St. Francis Tce.
The Colclough Family, Caislain Riada.
The Earls Family, Talbot Avenue.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anam.
