IFC Semi Final
Athlone 1-10 Rosemount 2-5
Our Intermediate team qualified for the club's first ever Intermediate Championship final after an intensely dramatic day's events, both on and off the pitch, in Cusack Park on Sunday.  The start of the game was delayed when a member of our panel, Cathal Joyce, became seriously ill in the warm-up, but thankfully prompt action from a number of medical personnel and officials means that Cathal is recovering well (see below).
Athlone had qualified for the semi-final after relatively comfortable progress through the group stage but any thoughts that this serene progress was going to continue were quickly dispelled when Rosemount goaled in the first minute, after Athlone had turned over possession from a free deep in their own territory.  A fine team move led to John Connellan opening the Blues' account with a point after four minutes but Athlone were struggling to get into the game and some more indecisive defending let Rosemount in for another goal, which they followed up with great point to lead by 2-1 to 0-1 with 10 minutes played.  They added two more fine points to stretch their lead to eight before Noelly Mulligan got Athlone's second and final point of the half from a free.  Rosemount were still well on top at this stage and added two more minor scores to leave us trailing by nine points, 2-5 to 0-2, at the interval.
A good start to second half was vital to Athlone and they got that when John Connellan scored within 30 seconds of the restart.  Athlone then had major let-off when Rosemount struck the crossbar when a goal would almost certainly had put the game beyond them, and they responded with two frees from Ray Connellan and Noelly Mulligan.  The Athlone defence had tightened up considerably at this stage and Rosemount weren't getting the chances they did in the first half, but scores were also hard to come by at the other end and there were still six points between the sides with twelve minutes remaining, although Ray Connellan was unlucky not to score a goal after a great run along the end line.
It really looked that Athlone had given themselves too much to as the game entered its final stages, but another John Connellan point give them hope.  Noelly Mulligan followed this up with a free and substitute Mickey Greene scored a great solo point to bring the gap back to just one score.  Athlone were now on top in most positions but still trailed by three as the game entered its final two minutes.  The pressure was beginning to tell on the Rosemount  defence, however, and John Connellan added a free before his brother Ray reduced the gap to a minimum with a great point from out on the sideline.  An Athlone team, who would've been grateful for a draw up to this now felt that they could win it and they got their chance when Mickey Greene got pulled down in the square as the game ticked into injury time.  John Connellan stepped up to take it, and while most people were discussing whether he should take a point, calmly blasted the ball to the Rosemount keeper's left to put Athlone ahead for the first time.  There was still time for a couple of Rosemount attacks but, fortunately for the Shannonsiders, they were unable to add their total and Athlone held out to win on a scoreline of 1-10 to 2-5, a result nobody who witnessed the first half would've predicted.
Team: Darren Costello, Eoin Maher, Damo Kelly, Fergal Murray, Danny Lynam, Noelly Muligan, Mattie Darling, John Stapleton, Paul Bannon, Stephen Ward, Ray Connellan, Dermot Bannon, John Connellan, Jordan Marshment, John Egan.  Subs: Sam Omukoro, Charlie McMickan, Mickey Greene

We wish Cathal Joyce a speedy recovery and wish to thank sincerely all those who assisted Cathal including Donal McCabe, First Responder from the Order of Malta, Dr. Patrick Boland a player with Rosemount, our own Colin O'Leary, a Garda trained in CPR. We also wish to thank Physios, Stacey Egan and Gerry Sommers from Milltown CLCG who as well as assisting Cathal stayed behind to help when our own Physio, James Joyce (brother of Cathal) accompanied him to hospital. The Club is extremely grateful for everyone's assistance and support.

U16 Championship
Athlone 2-13 Coralstown-Kinnegad 1-9
Our U16 Boys continued their good start to their championship campaign when they accounted for Coralstown-Kinnegad in Páirc Chiaráin on Monday evening.  After both sides had missed early chances, Donagh Prendergast opened the scoring with a nice point for the home side after six minutes.  Kinnegad levelled things up with their first score on 10 minutes before points from Shane Allen and David Cleary put the boys in blue back in front.  The visitors then struck a brace of their own to even things up midway through the half, and the tit-for-tat exchanges continued as two long range Benny Martin frees were answered by two fine team scores by the Reds to leave the scores level as halftime approached.  However a superb solo point from Deba 'Dugha on the stroke of half time meant that Athlone went into the break leading on a scoreline of 0-6 to 0-5.

Athlone started the second half with a greater sense of purpose and Luke Kelly opened the scoring after a good move straight from the throw-in, before he stretched the lead to three with a well struck free.  However, Kinnegad were also dangerous going forward and further points from Kelly again, Andrew Beaumont and David Cleary were matched by three from the visitors to leave the game still in the balance at the midway point of the second half, with Athlone leading by 0-11 to 0-8.  In fact, CK were unlucky not to have scored at least one goal in this period, but they were denied by some great saves from Michael Duddy.  Instead it was the home side who struck for the first major of the match when JJ Offorjama blasted home a superb goal after another good move.  The Athlone full-back and half-back lines were growing as an attacking force at this stage and their pace as they came forward caused many problems for the opposing defence, so it was no surprise when another great team move led to a goal chance for David Cleary, who finished emphatically to put the game beyond the visitors.  Two well-taken points from distance by Benny Martin closed the scoring for Athlone, while the final score of the game was a Kinnegad consolation goal deep in injury time to leave Athlone the victors on a scoreline of 2-13 to 1-9.

Athlone: John Duddy, James Finlass, Diarmuid Martin, Paddy Ryan, Deba Okedugha, Shane Allen, Kevin Cleary, Joseph Offojama, Benny Martin, Donagh Prendergast, Luke Kelly, David Cleary, Anthony Johnson, Dylan Keogh, Andrew Beaumont,
Subs: Chad Quinn and Michael Byrne
Scorers: Benny Martin 0-5, Donagh Prendergast 0-1, Shane Allen 0-1, Deba Dugha 0-1, Luke Kelly 0-3, Andrew Beaumont 0-1, David Cleary 1-1, Joseph Offorjama 1-0.

U12 Girls
Div C County Final
Athlone v Delvin/St. Pauls
Commiserations to our U12 girls were who defeated by 4 points by Delvin/St. Pauls in Division C of the County Semi Final.  Thanks to the girls and their families for the commitments shown all year and to the Mentors Adrian, Brian, Dan, Sheila and Kate for their hardwork during the year.  Full match report to follow.

U10 Boys
As the GAA calendar winds its way to a close, the Athlone U10s had their busiest week of the year with three games in the Tormeys Clann na nGael tournament. First up was our cross Shannon neighbours, St Brigid's, on a beautiful Wednesday evening. This was, without doubt, the best performance put in by these lads all year. The passing and movement was exemplary and the score-taking was spread throughout the two sides and the lads ran out worthy winners on the night. Thursday night saw another bright evening for the visit of Ballinasloe and another exhibition was given by the lads as they continued to show their talents. A win and a draw at the long whistle sent the locals home happy. The hat trick of matches finished on Friday evening when we visited our near neighbours Garrycastle on a wretched evening. Despite the horrible conditions it was a joy to see over sixty kids compete in two very entertaining matches with the spoils shared at one win each. And so the week ended with some very tired and very wet Athlone lads who should be very proud of their efforts. The panel for the week's endeavours were:

U10s: Luke Farrell, Toby Heavey, Josh Kenny, Johnny Martin, Dano McMonagle, Owen McNamara, Kian Mitchell, Luke O'Connell, Daniel Omukoro, Jason Rushe, Niall Tallon, Jason Ukatu, Luke Whelan, Corey Wilson & Patrick Wilson.
U9s: Rian Claffey, Adam Casey, Sean Cosgrove, Cian Dolan, John Fleming, Cillian Geary, Cathal Hardiman, Conor Hughes, Matthew Keane, Darragh Lough, Kyle Mahon, Lorcan McCormack, Conal McCourt, Cillian McGowan, Evan McMickan, Tiernan Mitchell, Luke Nicholson, Ruairi O'Duibhir, Ian Rushe, Shane Wheatley

Underage Football continues Sunday 20th at 11.30 in Pairc Chiarain.  New players welcome, come along on Sunday or contact David O'Connell at 087 2397519

Gaelic 4 Mothers & Others:
Our G4M&O team travelled to Ballymore  on Saturday September 12th to participate in a Gaelic 4 Mothers & Others Blitz! Some great displays of football were on show from all our ladies!! Many thanks to Liz and all the girls in Ballymore for a great day!  G4m&o is on every Monday from 7 to 8pm. New members always welcome! Contact Trisha Jordan at 086 1751167 or come along any Monday.

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

Cards in the Club:
Take place in the Clubhouse every Friday night at 8.30pm.  New players are very welcome, just come along to the Clubhouse any Friday.

Congratulations:
Athlone GAA Club would like to congratulate John Molloy and Niamh McManus on their recent wedding.

Best Wishes:
A speedy recovery to both Cathal Joyce and Jack Quinn from all at Athlone GAA Club.

Lotto Results:
There was no winner of this weeks €2,250 jackpot.
The numbers drawn were 7-9-10-22.
There were 4 match 3 winners.
Damien c/o Liam Roper.
Rose Grenham c/o Noel Flynn.
Rose Murray c/o Bingo.
Michael McNamara c/o Teresa Small.
This weeks jackpot will be €2,400.

Vote of Sympathy:
The Dunning Family, Southern Station Road.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anam.

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