Athea Utd

by Pat Mulvihill

“CUP FINAL HEARTBREAK FOR B’s”

DIVISION 4 LEAGUE CUP FINAL

Athea Utd  B 0 Carrig Cel B 1.

All roads led to Clounreask last Friday night for the eagerly awaited Division Four League Cup Final between ourselves and Carrig Celtic B. Being our first year having a B team our expectations werent too high but as the season wore on they were making progress and in the second half of the season they had some very good results which culminated in a very creditable third in the league. In the league cup we had wins over Glantine B and Newcastle West Rovers B which set u this intriguing contest at league headquarters.  Looking back on this final it was definitely a cup we left behind us as we missed some great chances in the second half and when Carrig got a very soft goal in the closing stages we knew that was that.

The game only came to life in the second half as all would agree the opening forty five minutes plus were quite poor from both sides in terms of creativity and with defences dominant, with for us the two McGraths excelling again it wasn’t surprising that it was scoreless at the break. Indeed we only had a couple of half chances that were headed over by Paddy Horgan.

It was in the second half that at last chances were being created with the bulk of them being created by Athea. The Carrig keeper was called into action early in the second half to deny Stephen McEnery, the striker beat the keeper initially to a through ball from Sean McGrath but opted to put the ball back on his right foot and this allowed the keeper enough time to deflect the ball away to safety. We came again with right sided midfielder Pa Kiely set up striker McEnery but he only found the side netting and midway through the second half Horgan fired over from the edge of the area with only the keeper to beat after being set up by some neat play by Kiely and McEnery. A double substitution saw Tom Greaney and Tomas Mullane introduced and it nearly create an immediate impact when a Greaney free-kick was headed on by Horgan which picked out Mullane who headed over the bar. We came closer soon after when a cross from Eoin Nash was met by the head of Mullane only for it to hit the bar and away to safety. With these chances going a begging there was always a possibility of a sucker punch and sure enough it came with two minutes left of normal time when we didn’t deal with a corner and the ball was forced over the line. Full time 1-0 to Carrig.

Team : Mikey Hayes, John Geoghegan, Jason Quille, Sean McGrath, Conor McGrath, Pa Kiely, Morgan O’Connor, Eoin Nash, Gary Carroll, Paddy Horgan, Stephen McEnery.

Subs used: Tom Greaney and Tomas Mullane. Also Kieran Dalton, Colm Hassett, Liam O’Brien, William Cronin, Bobby Barrett.

 

THANKS: Tom O’Grady of Brown Joe’s Bar, Athea sponsored the Athea Utd player of the match for the League Cup Final and Sean McGrath was unquestionably the Athea player of the match with a stellar performance at centre half. A big thanks to Tom for sponsoring this trophy.

 

DIVISION 1 LEAGUE

Athea Utd  A  0 Ballingarry A 1.

The A’s were at home to league champions Ballingarry last Sunday morning with the only goal of the game coming in the first half when a wind assisted corner went all the way to the net. We had some decent possession and had a few decent chances to draw level and get a deserved draw but it wasn’t to be.

Team: Tomas Quinn, Mathew Tierney, Padraig Reidy, Martin Chawke, Ger Collins, Padraig Horan, Timmy Enright, Joe Vaughan, Conor Mullane, Kevin O’Keeffe, Darren Murphy.

Subs: John Cotter, Mike Reidy, Paddy Horgan.

 

U/8 Division 4

Broadford Utd B 8 Athea Utd B  4.

Scorers: Andrew O’Riordan (2), Jack Hunt, Eoin O’Shea

Team: Daire O’Shea, Eoin O’Shea, TJ Hunt, Andrew O’Riordan, Jack Hunt, Aidan Curry, Shane Scanlon, Conor Mullane, Michael Walsh, Pierce O’Brien,

 

DESMOND U/17 CUP FINAL

Next Saturday, May 14th Athea Utd will contest the 2011 Desmond U/17 Cup Final when we will face Rathkeale at league headquarters in Clounreask. Kick off at 3.30pm. This is our time to reach this final since we won the inaugural competition in 2003 when we beat Killeaney

2-0 in Rathkeale and a similar outcome would be fantastic. To get this far we played three games, all away with wins over Ballingarry (2-1), Feenagh (2-0) and Bally Rovers (4-2) in the semi final. However we face a tough test on Saturday as Rathkeale are one of the strongest clubs at underage and youths level and will be strong favourites to win on Saturday. We will be looking for plenty support in Clounreask on Saturday and we wish manager Kevin O’Keeffe and all concerned the very best on Saturday.  (Bus leaving at 2pm)

 

FIXTURES

Friday May 13th

Junior As away to Abbeyfeale Utd B at 7pm.

Saturday, May 14th

Desmond U-17 Cup Final

Athea Utd V Rathkeale in Clounreask at 2.30pm. Bus leaving at 1pm.

Sunday May 15th

Junior As away to Abbeyfeale Utd B in League Cup at 2.30pm.

U/12s away to Newcastle West in the cup at 6pm. Bus leaving at 4.45pm.

 

ATHEA UTD TRAINING TIMES

U-12 Training this Wednesday evening at 6.30pm.

U-16 Training this Thursday evening at 6.30pm.

 

DESMOND LEAGUE ACADEMY

Last Sunday in Abbeyfeale the Desmond Schoolboys League hosted its annual inter league tournament with Cork, Wicklow and Limerick County the other leagues competing with Desmond. Athea Utd were represented by Sean Ryan and Timothy Tierney and both acquitted themselves very well. In the semi final Desmonds beat County 4-2 on pens after a one all draw and in the final Desmonds beat Cork 4-1 with Sean scoring two quality goals so well done to all concerned.

 

AN POST FAI SUMMER SOCCER SCHOOLS 2011

The time has come again to make plans for the 2011 Summer Soccer Schools which ill again be sponsored by An Post and will be known as An Post Summer Soccer Schools 2011. This years programme will run nationwide from July 4th to August 25th at venues the length and breath of the Republic of Ireland.

The Athea Utd camp will again be held at The Vales and will run from Monday July 25th to Friday July 29th

To book your place log on to www.fai.ie or call 1890 653 653. The co-ordinator for the Athea Utd camp again is Pat Mulvihill and he can be contacted on (087)7934417 and Pat will be only be too happy to give you any information or advice on the summer soccer school programme.

 

LOTTERY RESULTS MAY 9th

The results of our lottery draw for Monday, May 10th at Brown Joes are as follows –

Jackpot was €7,200. Numbers drawn were 9, 12, 27, 32. No Jackpot winner.

Lucky Dips to Johnny Cotter, Top of the Town. Joanne Quinn, Athea. Nora O’Connor, New York. Betty Murphy, Hillside Drive, Athea. Mairead Langan, Athea.

Sellers Gaire’s Shop, Ita McMahon.

New jackpot will be €7,300 on Monday, May 16th at The Gables.

 

Coiste na nÓg

Training:

U-6’s, U-8’s & U-10’s: Training continues for the U-6’s & U-8’s this Friday 13th of May from 6:30pm to 7:30pm in Páirc na nGael.

U-12’s: Training for U-12’s will be this Wednesday evening 11th of May from 6pm to 7pm in Páirc na nGael.

U-14’s: Training for the U-14’s continues next Tuesday evening the 17th of May at 7pm in Páirc na nGael. Players are asked to be at the field for 6:50pm.

 

Fixtures:

Thursday 12th of May:
U-12’s: Athea U-12’s are at home to Fr. Casey’s on Thursday 12th of May at 6:45pm. Players are asked to be at the field for 6:20pm

Friday 13th of May:
U-10’s: Athea U-10’s have their first Blitz in Dromcollogher this Friday 13th of May at 7pm. Cars will be leaving the village at 6pm.

Monday 16th of May:

U-16’s: Athea U-16’s are at home to Cappagh on Monday 16th of May at 7pm. Players are asked to be at the field for 6:30pm.

Wednesday 18th of May:

U-13’s: Athea U-13’s are away to Ballybrown on Wednesday 18th of May at 7pm. Cars will be leaving the village at 5:45pm.

 

Annual Church Gate Collection:

Athea Coiste na nÓg’s Church gate collection will be taken up at all Masses this weekend Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th of May. Your support would be greatly appreciated.

Club Jackets:
Orders are now being taken for Athea Coiste na nÓg club jackets for both adults and children. The jackets are maroon and navy with the newly designed club crest on them. They adult jacket cost €27 each. If you would like to order one please contact Jacqueline O’ Connor on 086-0670091 for more details.

 

Desmond League

 

Kilcolman Ladies held their Awards Night at Neary’s Bar, Ardagh on Saturday last. A large crowd attended the awards. The ladies won the Division 1 League and were runners up in the Desmond League Cup. The awards went to:

Top Scorer – Stephanie Downes

Player of the Season – Sineád Dundon

Best Goal Scored –  Niamh Ryan

Best Attendance Award – Dyann Carroll

The club also collected three awards from the Ladies League. They won “Club of the Year”. Catherine Hayes got “Player of the Year”, and Alva Neary got “Player of the League Final Play Off”.

Colm Dalton, Pat King and Jim Molyneaux were special guests on the night and they presented the ladies with their trophies. Mike King, the manager, was also presented with special awards and received a framed club crest. Matty Histon as P.R.O. for the club received a special award for his club reports to the local papers.

The club would like to thank Neary’s Bar for the lots of lovely food on the night and also for the use of the lounge for the Awards Night. Thanks also to Colm, Pat and Jim, the league referee.

 

G.A.A.

Result

County Championship Round 2      Oola 1 10 Athea 1 05.

Team: Timmy Enright, Mike Ahern, Ger Collins, Matthew Tierney, Michael Reidy, Martin Chawke, Brian Ahern, Conor Mullane, Tomas Mullane (1 00), Kevin O`Keeffe. Pat Ahern (0 01), Padraig Reidy (0 01), John Cotter (0 01), Jamie Collins (0 01), Gerard Ahern (0 01), Subs: Neilus Hunt, Brian McKenna, Conor McGrath, Sean McGrath, Sean Ahern, Denis Greaney, Jason Quille, Mark O`Connor.

Fixture

West Intermediate Semi-final

Athea v Glin in Abbeyfeale Saturday May 14th at 7pm.