Athea Utd Soccer
Division 1 League (24th August)
Old Mill (0) 0 Athea Utd A (4) 6
Cillian O‘Connor (4), Conor Mullane, Martin Chawke.
Team: Pa Ahern, Ryan Carroll, Jamie Collins, Martin Chawke, Tom Collins, Padraig Horgan, Ger Collins, Joe Vaughan, Gerard Ahern, Conor Mullane, Cillian O’Connor
Referee S Hartnett.
Division 1 League (26th August)
Athea Utd A (0) 1 Tom Collins. Kilcornan (0) 0
Team: Pa Ahern, Kevin O’Keeffe, Padraig Horgan, Tom Collins, Martin Chawke, Cillian O’Connor, Ger Collins, Gerard Ahern, Conor Mullane, John Cotter, Darren Murphy.
Sub used: Joe Vaughan. Referee: P O’Donnell.
REGISTRATION FOR 2012-13 SEASON
We will have another registration day next Sunday, September 2nd. So any U/8s, U/10s, U/12s or U14s that have yet to register you are asked to come to the clubhouse at The Vales next Sunday from 12 noon to 1pm as all registrations have to be with the league by next Tuesday, September 4th. New players are especially welcome.
ATHEA UTD MEMBERSHIP 2012-13
There is no change to the cost of club membership with the membership from the 2011-12 season being applied to the upcoming 2012-13 season
U/8s, U/10s & U/12s €20 per player.
U/14s €25 per player.
Youths €35 per player.
UNDERAGE FAMILY DISCOUNT – There will again be a family discount for families of underage players and for each additional child this will be €10 extra.
For example a family with an U/8 player and an U/10 player the membership will be €30 while a family with an U/12 player and an U/16 the membership will be €40.
IMPORTANT NOTICE – In line with club policy no player(s) will be allowed play for Athea Utd in the schoolboy league or junior league until they have their membership paid. All managers are to collect the respective membership and to implement this club policy.
ATHEA UTD FIXTURES
Sunday, September 2nd
Junior As at home to Breska Rovers at 2pm
Junior Bs at home to Kilcornan at 11.30am
ATHEA UTD TRAINING TIMES
U/10s on Thursdays 6 to 7.15pm
U/14s on Mondays 6 to 7pm.
Junior As & Bs Fridays 7-10pm
(All players confirm with relevant managers)
ATHEA UTD LOTTERY RESULTS FOR AUGUST 27th
The results of our weekly lottery draw for Monday, August 27th at JP’s are as follows
Jackpot was €5100. Numbers drawn 12, 18, 30, 32. No jackpot winner.
Lucky dips to Ann McGrath, Glin. Mike Twomey, Upper Athea. Sean Fitz c/o Batts Bar. Kitt O’Connor, Lower Athea. Karen O’Driscoll, Ballyduff.
Sellers Agatha & Batts Bar.
New jackpot will be €5200 on Monday, September 3rd at The Top of the Town.
Athea GAA

Athea Junior B Football team that lost to Mountcollins 1--8 to 0--8 in the West Limerick Championship on Tuesday Aug 24th in Tournafulla. Front row L to R: John Hunt, Manager, Dan McMahon, Mike Hayes, Kevin Murphy, Thomas Hassett, Mike Ahern, Maurice Hayes, John Geoghegan, Brian Ahern, Thomas Sexton, Jamie O Brien, Liam O Brien, Back row L to R: Mark Horgan, Jason Quille, Eoghan Nash, Gary Carroll, Emmet White, Ray Brouder, Eoin McCarthy, Neilus Hunt, Paddy Horgan, Paul Matthews, Donal Woulfe, Jonathan Fitzgerald, Shane Tierney, Gerry Quille, Paul Griffin, Denis Collins. Missing from photo Colm Hassett.
Club Draw
Our next draw will take place this Saturday evening 1st September at Batt’s Bar.
Athea Coiste na nÓg
Matches:
U14 County Shield Semi-final:
On a stormy Wednesday evening, we travelled to east Limerick to play Knockainey in their home ground in the County Shield semi-final. On a night which typified our Irish summer, strong winds and driven rain plus a fancied Knockainey side meant a tough night was in store for the boys in maroon. We started the game brightly and opened the scoring with a classic William Sexton point after dissecting the defence with a direct solo run. We dominated the opening 15 minutes due to immense work from our wing forwards JJ Sheehy and Shane Dalton who constantly tracked back whilst keeping the markers on their toes. During this period of the game Sean Ryan broke forward from centre field to pop over a neat point to rally the troops. Knockainey may have been slow to get out of the traps but came into their own midway through the half scoring two unanswered points to keep the scoreboard even. Winning our own kick outs was going to be vital as the Knockainey midfield had a slight height advantage. This is where we played our trump card with Ronan Hayes between the posts delivering pinpoint kick outs to maroon jerseys without fail. With the majority of possession scores were only a matter of time. Micheál Ambrose fielded the ball and played a neat pass to Donnacha McEnery who put Sexton though on goal and he made no mistake.
In the second half, the boys knowing they were one half away from the final came on to the field. Again we threatened the Knockainey goal with Brian Sheahan at corner forward battling past the opposing fullback line and fired a shot which ricocheted off the right post. At the other end Knockainey found score hard to come by due to ever dependable defending from the two McAuliffes at either side of the solid Conor Fitzgerald at full back. Our wing backs TJ Doherty and Cillian Liston had the beating of their markers and were the catalyst for most of our scores, winning vital possession from the breaks and laying off the ball to our forward line. Alan Kelly at center forward was causing trouble for his opposing marker all through the match, which made it difficult for Knockainey to mount an attack. Midway through the half James Ryan who no doubt will feature in the Limerick jersey in the coming years delivered a long ball into the oncoming William Sexton and he crashed the ball into the roof of the Knockainey net. The game ended quite close with a late Knockainey goal but the lads held back their attempts to win the match on a scoreline of 3-4 to 2-3. An excellent display of football and endeavour from the lads who are now through to the Shield final against Sean Finns (Rathkeale). Your support would greatly be appreciated. Team: Ronan Hayes, Liam McAuliffe, Conor Fitzgerald, Mark McAuliffe, TJ Doherty, James Ryan, Cillian Liston, Micheál Ambrose, Sean Ryan (0-1), JJ Sheehy, Alan Kelly, Shane Dalton, Donnacha McEnery, William Sexton (3-3), Brian Sheahan, Jack Gleeson, William McEnery, Micheál Dalton & Andy Ahern.
U12’s:
Our U12’s played Knockaderry in Páirc na nGael on Thursday last. It was a very exciting game as both teams went at it from the start. Athea were first to score when Shane Dalton rose the white flag. Knockaderry then scored 4 unanswered points before Shane Ambrose scored a great goal. We scored another point just before half time to leave us a point up at the break. In the second half, Shane Dalton and John Sexton scored a point each to put us three points up. Knockaderry then hit a purple patch scoring 2-3 to our 0-1 to leave the final score Athea 1-5, Knockaderry 2-7. Team: David O’Sullivan, David O’Connor, Michéal Dalton, Jamie O’Mahony, John Sexton, Shane Dalton, Shane Ambrose, Jack O’Connor, David Sheahan, Jason Dillon, Daniel McEldowney, Joseph Dalton & Donnacha Clancy.
U8’s & U10’s:
Our U8’s and U10’s played Gerald Griffins on Friday evening last at home. With over 30 players togged out altogether and a huge crowd of supporters both teams did extremely well on the night matching the opposition in all areas of the field, displaying great skill and taking some lovely scores with all the boys and girls doing their best for their teams.
U8 Team: Gavin Mulvihill, Gearóid O’Sullivan, James Lee, Clodagh Scanlon, Evan Curry, Calum Gleeson, Daire O’Shea, Donnachadh Barrett, Michael Walsh, James Broderick & Cillian O’Connor.
U10 Team: Aidan Curry, Sarah Scanlon, Thomas McEnery, Laura Dalton, Evan Wallace, Danny Brady, Sarah O’Connor, TJ Hunt, Eoin O’Shea, Luke Gleeson, Eoin Sheahan, Nicola Scanlon, Meadhbh Donovan, Jack Hunt, Gavin Ambrose & Andrew O’Riordan.

Athea U6's togged out and ready for action James Hunt, Aoife Sheahan, Adam Somers, Ailisa Ahern, Conor McDonagh, Brid Hunt, Tomás Ahern & Aisling Donovan
Upcoming Fixtures for the month of August:
Wednesday 29th of August:
U6’s & U’8s:
Athea U6s & U8s are away to Finuge this evening Wednesday 29th of August. Cars leaving the village at 6:20pm.
Thursday 30th of August:
U12’s:
Athea U12s are away to Adare this Thursday evening the 30th of August. Cars leaving the village at 5:30pm.
Friday 31st of August:
U8’s:
Athea U8’s have a Blitz in Mick Neville Park on Friday the 31st of August. Time to be confirmed.
Sunday 2nd of September:
U6’s & U8’s:
Athea U6’s & U8’s are away to Fr. Casey’s on Sunday morning 2nd of September. Time to be confirmed.
Training:
U12’s
There is no training for U12s this week.
U6’s & U10’s Friday 31st of August:
Training for U6’s & U10’s continues this Friday evening 31st of August from 6:30pm to 7:30pm in Páirc na nGael.
U14’s Thursday 30th of August:
Training for U14’s continues Thursday evening 30th of August from 6:30pm to 7:30pm in Páirc na nGael. All players to be at the field for 6:25pm.
Predict the score Fundraiser:
Athea Coiste na nÓg will be running predict the score for the All Ireland Football Final. All support would be greatly appreciated.
Athea Ladies Football Club
This Friday in Askeaton at 6.45 our Senior Ladies football team contest yet another county final and their opponents are St. Ailbes. This is a miraculous achievement because the girls began the championship with little hope of winning any of their matches and with a very limited number of players. However the spirit and competitiveness of this bunch was underestimated and while having to give a walkover in the first round they came together to have fine wins over Abbeyfeale, Mungret and Drom-Broadford which put them into the final. This writer often wonders what parents do if not following their daughters on the playing field but then I suppose they will not miss the pleasure, entertainment and joy of watching them as they go about competing.
With Ann Cunningham in goals and protected by fullbacks Helena Collins, Lorraine Higgins and half backs Erica Fealy, Catriona Sheehan and Katie Collins we have a very solid unit and they have played a big part in the teams progress so far. Deirdre Fitzpatrick and Lisa O’Connor have been playing at centre field and although a new pairing this year they also contribute in a big way. Our forwards of Carol Collins, Meadhbh Nash, Mary Ita Casey, Shauna McAuliffe, Megan Carroll, Carla Sheehy, Aoife O’Connor, Caroline Maughan, Elizabeth Nash are each very talented and match winners If they get a good supply of ball they will, I believe, give us another night to remember.
Liz O Sullivan, our hard working secretary, believes that we have a great blend of youth and experience and that if we have all our players injury free we should succeed. Most of these players already have 9, 10 or 11 county medals and their hunger to add to their collection is not diminished. Billy Vaughan coach/manager has no fears about his charges and says he has been delighted to work with such a talented group.
We will miss Lorraine Higgins who has gone to Australia and we wish her Bon Voyage and we look forward to welcoming her back as we do for Sandra Larkin. Our best wishes also to Catriona Sheehan who is getting married in September .
Friday night brings an extraordinary year to a close when this team has surpassed all our expectations and their talents in football will be on display for all to see as they have no expectations.