by Pat Mulvihill

Athea Utd Soccer

Division 4 League
Ncw Rovers B 0 Athea Utd B 7.
Scorers: Bobby Barrett (2), Morgan O’Connor, Pa Kiely, Sean McGrath, Stephen McEnery, o.g.
The B’s got back to winning ways on Sunday afternoon last after a comprehensive win away to Newcastle West Rovers B and in the process record the biggest win of their debut season as well as maintaining third place in the league.

Athea got off to a great start when Pa Kiely rattled the back of the Rovers net and not long after Morgan O’Connor made it two when his pacy cross confused the home keeper and the ball ended in the net. A rare but nevertheless well deserved goal from Sean McGrath saw us extend the advantage when the defender broke up field and played a one two with Steven McEnery before firing a well struck shot to the bottom corner. The first half scoring was complete when a well struck free kick by Tom Greaney hit a Rovers defender and ended in the net for an own goal.

The goals continued in the second half when McEnery was played through by Eoin Nash and from the edge of the area drilled the ball low to the bottom corner. Rovers tried to get back into it but not for the first time this season our defence were dominant and consequently keeper Mickey Hayes wasn’t unduly troubled.

Player manager Bobby Barrett also got in on the scoring act with two goals, the first came when the overworked home keeper saved well from Mike Twomey and he fired home the rebound with his second coming when good pressure on the home keeper by Barrett and McEnery saw him rush his clearance and it came to the manager to dispatch the ball to the net with his left foot. That completed the scoring and sets us up nicely for the visit of Carrig Celtic to The Vales next Sunday afternoon.
Team: Mickey Hayes, John Geoghegan, Tom Greaney, Sean McGrath, Conor McGrath, Pa Kiely, Morgan O’Connor, Eoin Nash, Gary Carroll, Stephen McEnery, Bobby Barrett.
Subs used Mike Twomey, Jason Quille, Kieran Dalton.

U/13 Cup
Athea Utd 0 Ballingarry 1.

Our thirteens were at home to Ballingarry in the cup last Saturday morning and went
down unluckily to a late goal when they deserved to take the tie to extra time
and even a replay. The early stages were tight but gradually the game began to
open up with the visitors threatening first but were denied by a superb
interception from James Ryan while soon after James was involved again but this
time in an attacking sense when he crossed to Pa O’Connor who in turn laid the
ball off to Padraic Walsh who fired over from outside the box.
At the other
end Timothy Tierney was off his line quickly to save with his feet while from a
visitors corner a great headed clearance by William Sexton led to a counter
attack involving James and Pa with the latter denied by a great tackle and not
long after Ronan Hayes fired wide at the near post after a pass from Pa. The
last five minutes of the first half saw Ballingarry pressing hard with but a
good save from Timothy and great defending from William meant it was scoreless
at the interval.
The visitors started the second half on the attack and had
two quick corners with both defended well by Padraic while a few later Timothy
palmed away a cross before reacting smartly to save the follow up. The game
ebbed with both sides going for it with Pa setting up Brian O’Connor but their
keeper was quickly off his line to deny the Athea midfielder. With five minutes
left came the games only goal when a Ballingarry free kick ended in the net. We
pushed hard for the equalizer and had them under pressure and had a couple of
corners but last gasp defending saw the visitors hold on for a narrow cup
win.
Best for Athea were James Ryan, Padraic Walsh, Timothy Tierney and Pa
O’Connor
Team: Timothy Tierney, Jack Denihan, William Sexton, Killian O’Donoghue,
Tommy Quaid, James Ryan, Brian O’Connor, Padraic Walsh, Pa O’Connor, JJ Sheehy,
Ronan Hayes.
Subs Tony McAuliffe, Sean Ryan, Jason Dalton, Joey
Kelly.

U/8 Division 4
Athea Utd 1 Kilcolman 5.
Scorer:
Daire O’Shea
The under eight season resumed last Saturday with our B team at
home to Kilcolman for an afternoon kick off which was played before another fine
crowd. The early exchanges were even enough before a three goal burst by the
visitors put them in the driving seat but despite this the Athea side kept going
with Padraic Enright and Gearoid O’Sullivan in defence doing very well while
keeper Daire O’Shea was bravery personified with some fine saves. For the second
half Daire played up front and sheer persistance earned him a deserved goal
while Andrew O’Riordan was very unlucky not to score when his penalty clipped
the post.
Overall an enjoyable contest and the games continue for this team
next Sunday with a game at home to St Itas at 5pm.
Team: Daire O’shea, Aidan Curry, Padraic Enright, Gearoid O’Sullivan,
Andrew O’Riordan, TJ Hunt, Eoin O’Shea, Jack Hunt, DJ O’Connor, Michael Walsh,
Shane Scanlon.

Division 1 League
Glantine 1 Athea Utd 1.

Scorer: Pa Ahern.
Despite picking up a point away to Glantine last Sunday morning our
A’s drop into the relegation zone after the days other results and are currently
on eleven points along with Glantine but the latter have a better goal
difference. We made the better start and went ahead when Pa Ahern scored his
second goal in as many away games with a super volley after being set up by
Kevin O’Keeffe and we held this lead to the break. Early in the second half
Glantine equalized with a header from a corner and now it was anybodys game.
Near the end we came very close to winning it when Tomas Quinn’s clearance over
the home defence put us on the attack where the ball came to O’Keeffe and he
took the ball around the keeper and shot goalwards only for a defender to take
the ball off the line. It finished one all and we have plenty to do if we are
move up the table.
Team: Tomas Quinn, Padraig Horgan, Tom Collins, Padraig Reidy, Mathew
Tierney, Kevin O’Keefe, Conor Mullane, Pa Ahern, Mike Reidy, John Cotter, Darren
Murphy. Sub Timmy Enright.

FIXTURES

Wednesday, March 9th
U/16s
away to Abbeyfeale Utd at 7pm. Bus leaving at 6pm sharp.
Saturday, March 12th
U/10s
away to Creeves at 11.30am.
U/14s away to Kildimo Utd at 11.30am. Bus leaving
at 10.15am.
Sunday, March 13th
U/8 Bs
home to St Itas B at 5pm.
Junior As home to Pallaskenry A at
11.30am.
Junior Bs home to Carrig Cel B at 2.30pm.

ATHEA UTD TRAINING TIMES

U/8
As on Wednesdays from 6pm to 7pm in the hall.
U/8 Bs on Wednesdays from 7pm
to 8pm in the hall.
U/10s on Wednesdays on Astro Pitch at 7pm.
U/12s on
Thursdays 6pm to 7.30pm.
U/14s on Thursdays from 6.30pm to 8pm.
U/16s on
Wednesdays 5.30pm to 7pm.

PLEASE NOTE – All players check with respective managers for confirmation of training times.

LOTTERY RESULTS MARCH 7th
Results of our weekly lottery draw which was held on Monday, March 7th at White’s Bar
are as follows:

Jackpot was
€6,300. Numbers drawn were 17, 18, 24, 27. No Jackpot winner.

Lucky Dips:

Donie Sheehan, Ardagh

Michael O’Connor, Upper Athea

Kayleigh & Emma Hartnett, Kostal

Betty Murphy, Gortnagross

Katie Flaherty, Glin

Seller’s Prizes: John Horgan & Agatha Barrett

New jackpot will be €6,400 next Monday night March 14th at Brown Joe’s.

Athea Coiste na nÓg

Sports Gear for Free:

Athea Coiste na nÓg still need your help in collecting the last few
tokens for Sports Gear for Free with the Irish Daily Mail. These tokens will be
printed in the Irish Daily Mail until Friday 5th of March 2011. The Club will
receive free gear if we reach our target. If any of you or your family,
neighbours or friends get this paper, would you ask them to keep the tokens for
us please. Tokens can be given to John Hunt or Jacqueline O’ Connor or they can
be dropped in to Rose at Brouder’s shop where there is a box there for them. A
big thank you to everyone who has collected the tokens so far. Your help and
support is greatly appreciated.

Coaching:

The Coiste na nÓg are currently looking for anyone that would be
interested in coaching or helping out with our underage teams from U-6’s up to
U-16’s for the coming year. Please contact Jacqueline O’ Connor 086-0670091 or
John Hunt 087-9692105 for more details.

Calendars:

The Athea Coiste na nÓg 2011  calendars are still on sale at 5 Euro each. They contain photos of the six underage football teams from U-6’s to U-16’s and can be got from any of the coaches. All money raised will benefit the under age teams. The club would like to say a big thank you to Rose Enright at Brouder’s shop for her support in helping us to sell our calendars in her shop.

Club Jackets:

Orders are now being taken for Athea Coiste na nÓg club jackets (Adults only). The jackets are maroon and navy with the newly designed club crest on them. They cost €27 each and if  you would like to order one please contact Jacqueline O’ Connor on 086-0670091 for more details.

Registration Day:

We had a great turn out at our  registration day last Sunday 6th of March in the Club House at Páirc na nGael. We also announced the winners of the colouring competition. The winners are as follows: Junior Infants: Cillian O’Connor, Senior Infants: Gearóid O’Sullivan, First Class: Denise Carmody, Second Class: Kaitlin Enright, Third Class: Shauna Scanlon, Fourth Class: Sinead Hunt, Fifth Class: Maeve Carmody, Sixth Class: Laura Curry. For all the children that have not registered yet, forms can be gotten from John Hunt or Jacqueline O’ Connor.

Athea GAA

There is a match between Athea/Mountcollins minors and Moyvane in Mountcollins on Tuesday night next March 15th.

Bus will leave Athea at 6.30 pm. All minor players are asked to attend

Athea Golf Society.
Welcome back golfers!

The first outing of the year takes place on Saturday, March 19th to Castleisland. The  prizes are kindly sponsored by James O’Mahony Tiling, Cratloe.

A meeting to make arrangements will be held at the Top of the Town on Tuesday March 15th at 9pm. Please reply to your text message before that date or contact any of the
committee.

Anyone wishing to join should come along to the meeting where a “céad míle fáilte” awaits.