Athea GAA

Club Draw:

Our second draw will be taking place this weekend in Dick White’s Bar. Tickets are still available from our draw promoters and a big thank you to everyone who has generously supported our draw again this year.

Old Photographs:

The Club are still looking for any old photographs or match programmes from anyone that has them in the parish. Contact John Hunt or Lal Browne.

Fixtures:

Minors

Our minors start their championship season this Thurs 4th July with a home game against Shannon Gales [Glin/Ballyhahill Combination]. We are joined up with Mountcollins again this year as Feale Rangers. Throw in at 7.30pm. Players to be at Pitch for 7pm.

Junior B’s

We are down to play St. Kieran’s in the next round of the west Championship. The game goes ahead in Glin this Sunday evening 7th July at 7.30pm.

 

Athea Coiste na nÓg:

Matches:

Wednesday June 26:

U12’s:

Our U12’s entertained Feohanagh/Castlemahon at home in Páirc na nGael on Wednesday evening last in their third game of phase two of the mini league. This was a great game of football as both sides gave it their all for forty minutes. Feohanagh/Castlemahon opened the scoring with a point but we were soon on level terms after great work by Jason Dillon and Seamus Leahy released John Sexton to raise the white flag. The opposition replied with a goal but we kept our heads and Aidan Curry scored a wonderful point to bring us back into the match. Great fielding by Seamus Leahy was rewarded when he passed to David O’Connor who in turn passed it to Jack O’ Connor and he burst through the visitors defence to blast to the back of the net. Feohanagh/Castlemahon had a great chance of a goal but a great save by Evan Wallace ensured we went in at the break one point up. Feohanagh/Castlemahon were first to score in the second half with a point but we went ahead again after a great passing movement ended with John Sexton scoring a goal. Our defence was well on top at this stage as Ciara O’Shea, Alex McEldowney and Jamie O’Mahony were all having fine games. Super sub Sarah O’Connor pounced to score a great goal after a John Sexton shot was fumbled by the keeper. A point for John Sexton was followed by Sarah O’Connor’s second goal as she found the roof of the net from a tight angle. David O’Connor who had a great game pointed from long range with five minutes remaining. Feohanagh/Castlemahon came back into the game scoring two quick fire goals and they continued to pile on the pressure but our defense was strong and we held on for a great win on a scoreline of Athea 4-4, Feohanagh/Castlemahon 3-2. Team: Evan Wallace, Rhys Keily, Ciara O’Shea, Jamie O’Mahony, David O’Connor, Alex McEldowney, Jason Dillon, Seamus Leahy, John Sexton, Eoin Sheahan, Jack O’Connor, Aidan Curry,  Sarah O’Connor, Colin Broderick, Jack Hunt, Laura Dalton, Sean Sheehan & Thomas McEnery.

Athea National School:

Athea National school boys and girls from second class up to sixth class made the short journey up to Páirc na nGael to take part in the skills day fun day organised by club school link coach David O’ Connor last Thursday week. Point scoring, soloing, hand passing, target kicking, penalty shoot out, crossbar/upright challenge, hula hoop team race and ice cream cone relay were all part of the fun and games. All the classes were divided up into four teams each and the children had great fun taking part in each exercise. Many thanks to Denis Greaney, Mark O’Connor & Roger Ryan who helped out on the day. Just before they went home all the children got treats to cap off a fantastic day at the GAA field.

Athea Community Games

Last Saturday week a large group of Athea children arrived in Mungret for the Athletics county finals. All the boys and girls did very well with most of them qualifying for the finals on Sunday morning. Our U12 girls won their heat in the 100m relay. The U12 boys 100m relay team also qualified as did the U10 mixed relay team. Ciana Murphy, Aibhilín Murphy, Sinead Hunt, Seamus Leahy, Micheál Dalton and Eoin O’ Shea all qualified in the 100m sprint. The following day we all left the village together and arrived early in Mungret for the finals. All the boys and girls ran their best and they can all be proud at how well they preformed in the finals.

Margaret Stackpoole did extremely well winning a medal in the discus. We also had a number of children competing in the U5’s and U7’s races. On Saturday last our U13 girls and U11 mixed basketball teams travelled to Tralee to take part in the Community games Munster Finals. The U13 girls came up against a very strong Cork team and despite their best efforts lost out on the finish. Our U11’s also played Cork and put up a brave battle loosing out by just a basket. Well done to all the athletes and their coaches who competed in the various events. Thanks to all the parents who travelled to support these young stars who will be making sure that the future is bright for Community games in Athea.

Athea United Soccer

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Athea Utd held its Annual General Meeting last Friday night, June 28th at The Top of the Town and was well attended. Chairman Tim O’Riordan opened the AGM and thanked everybody present for attending on the night. Secretary Pa Walsh read the minutes of the 2012 AGM and gave a run down on the happenings of club matters for the past season while Treasurer Clare Ryan gave us accounts of the clubs finances which are heading in the right direction.
THANKS –
Chairman Tim O’Riordan thanked everyone in the club, members, committee members, players and managers for their efforts over the past twelve months. From a financial point we came up with some fundraising ideas – we ran another very successful Last Man Standing Competition and he thanked John Geoghegan and Clare Ryan for the effort the put in to this. Ur St Stephens Day Tournament was another success and thanks here to Kevin  O’Keeffe and John Hunt who did hugh work and where half the profits went to the Josh Mahoney Fund. Bag Packing was another positive success and thanks to Eoghan Nash for his great help and to Super Valu Listowel for allowing us the opportunity.  Thanks here too to Clare Ryan for organizing the parents rota and thanks to the parents who helped make the bag packing a great success. We also got a grant of €5000 from Airtricity and thanks to Pa Walsh and Clare Ryan who looked after the application and brought it to fruition. Our Church Gate Collection was well supported and we thank all the people of Athea Parish for supporting us.
Our Weekly Lottery Draw is the bread and butter of the clubs finances and its still going strong which is great considering the current economic climate which is still prevailing and so a great big thank you to all our great sellers who sell tickets week in week out, many with no connection with the club itself. Thanks to Doreen Cahill, Pat Buckley, Pat Hayes, Denis Murphy and Pa Walsh who help run the lottery draw every Monday night.
Thanks to Mike O’Connell and Roger Ryan who fixed the Astro Turf boundary nets and for modifying the lawnmower for the brushes which helps maintain the Astro Turf surface/carpet.
A big thanks to West Limerick Resources and the workers on the Rural Employment Scheme, Ned White and Mike Woods who maintain our grounds at The Vales and who do an excellent job every week. Thanks also to Tom O‘Connor for his help at The Vales. We recently sanded out two pitches while we also installed sensor and efficiently lighting in the clubhouse and we thank John Geoghegan and Mike McCarthy who did an excellent job.
Thanks also to all the business people who gave sponsorship in the past season – Johnny and Betty Cotter (Top of the Town), Joe Kelly (South West Motors, Athea). Tommy O’Grady (Brown Joes Bar), Leo Geoghegan (Gale Foods) and Denise O’Riordan (Bank of Ireland, Castleisland)
A big thanks to Lillian and Donal at The Parish News for printing our notes every week and for giving great publicity to our club events
PLAYING FRONT –  On the playing front I would like to congratulate both junior teams on their success in their respective division, the A’s winning Division 1, the first time in the clubs history, and the B’s who did the double in winning both the Division 3 League and the League Cup.  I would like to thank PJ Kinsella, Chris Hayes Bobby Barrett and Paudie Lynch for their tireless work during the season. Congratulations for both sets of players for their hard work and professionalism throughout the season and keep up the good work.  Might I also add is to thank the players this season for the selling of lotto tickets or Last Man Standing cards which was greatly appreciated.
OFFICERS ELECTED FOR THE 2013/14 SEASON –
Chairman Tim O’Riordan. Secretary Denis Murphy, Treasurer Clare Ryan. Vice Chairman John Geoghegan. Asst-Secretary Pa Walsh. Asst-Treasurer Gary Carroll. PRO Pat Mulvihill. Child Welfare Officer Pat Hayes. Registrars Pa Walsh, Bobby Barrett.
VICTORY SOCIAL
Athea Utd had a great season at junior level when winning three trophies, the As coming from behind in the league to win the title after a playoff while the Bs won the Division 3 League & Cup Double. This is historic in that it’s the first time a junior side in the club ever did the double though the feat has being achieved before an underage level. So to celebrate this seasons success the club will be holding a Victory Social in The Devon Inn Hotel, Templeglantine on Friday, July 19th. There will be a three course meal while music afterwards will be by DJ Donnacha. Guests to be seated for 7.30pm.
Tickets are only €25 and are limited and may be purchased from the following club members – Clare Ryan, Dennis Murphy, John Geoghegan and Bobby Barrett. Tickets can also be purchased at Brouders Shop here in Athea.
ATHEA UTD LOTTERY RESULTS FOR JULY 1st
The results of our weekly lottery draw held on Monday, July 1st at Peadar’s Bar, Ardagh are as follows –
Jackpot was €9400. Numbers drawn 7, 23, 30, 31. No jackpot winner.
Lucky dips to the following – Liam Quille, Colbert St, Athea. Mickey & Betty c/o Top of the Town. John Hickey, Listowel. Michael O’Grady, Rathkeale. Tom Greaney c/o Brouders, Gale View.
Sellers Margaret Reidy & Pat Hayes.
New jackpot will be €9500 on Monday night, July 8th at Donie’s.