Athea GAA
Club Draw:
Tickets are still available for our club draw and can be got from our draw promoters, a big thank you to everyone who has generously supported our draw again this year. The following are the results of the draw that was held in Collins’ Bar on Saturday night last:
€500 Mary McAuliffe, Park, Athea.
€250 Mike O’ Connor Jnr, Upper Athea.
€150 Stephanie Ambrose, Gortnagross, Athea.
€150 Mike Hussey, C/O Collins’s shop, Athea
€150 Liam O’ Brien, Templeathea, Athea.
€150 Connie Noonan, Glasha, Athea.
Matches
West Intermediate Football Champions:
Athea 1–11 St.Mary/Sean Finns 2–7
There were great celebrations in the village on Saturday night last as our Intermediate team brought home silverware for the first time since 2008 after defeating St. Mary/Sean Finns in the West Intermediate Final. A large crowd of supporters travelled to Croagh as Athea were attempting to reverse last years result and get one over on the opposition who had also beaten us in the championship a couple of months ago. Athea lined out with a mixture of youth and experience on the team. We had the experience of Tom Collins, Paul Collins and Pa Ahern up the middle of the field and Denis Greaney, Mark O’ Connor and the Murphy brothers of Darren and Kevin bringing the youth with them. It was St. Mary/Sean Finns who opened the scoring but we were soon on level terms when Ger Ahern pointed a free after Mark O’ Connor was fouled. Ger was on target again from a free, this time after Pa Ahern was fouled twenty five yards out. A counter attack by the opposition ended with Timmy Enright making a great save, but on the rebound we conceded a penalty which they converted to go two points ahead. We responded well with our half forwards of Tom Greaney, Pa Ahern and Darren Murphy beginning to find their feet. Ger Ahern rose the white flag twice before man of the match Paul Collins broke out of defence and drove forward with the ball to score a fantastic point. A great block down by Raymond Brouder was backed up by great defending by Michael Reidy to clear their lines. St. Mary/Sean Finns did manage to score a couple of points to go one ahead with ten minutes remaining in the half. Disaster struck then, when a poor pass from one of our forwards went a stray and allowed the opposition to break down the field and score a soft goal. St.Mary/Sean Finns followed this up with a point, but just before half time, some outstanding work in the corner by Kevin Murphy to win the ball was rewarded, when he passed it to Pa Ahern who laid it off for Jamie Collins to score a crucial point.
After a long debate on the sideline during the break, the selectors Noel Barry, Sean McMahon and Martin Doyle decided to bring on Neilus Hunt in midfield and this proved to be a master stroke. Athea produced a powerful second half performance as Tom Collins and Neilus Hunt took control in midfield. Denis Greaney, Shane Tierney and Padraig Reidy who had their hands full in the first half got much closer and tighter giving the opposition’s forwards little opportunity in the second half. Pa Ahern opened our account with a super point from a tight angle. We were unlucky not to score a goal after Jamie Collins was fouled forty yards out and from the resulting free kick the ball was floated in where Tom Collins got a fist to it and it hit the upright only to be cleared by their defenders. We exchanged two points each as Ger Ahern who was on top form was on target twice. At this stage, we were still three points down but our boys dug deep with Kevin Mahony now in the forwards causing havoc for the oppositions defense. Ger Ahern reduced the lead to two points after Jamie Collins was fouled in front of the posts. Ger rose the white flag again from play to leave just the minimum between the teams.
The winning score of the match came when great work by Neilus Hunt released Jamie Collins who split opened the St. Mary/Sean Finns defence and fired an unstoppable shot to the roof of the net to the delight of everyone on the bench and sideline. The opposition pulled one back and pushed hard for an equalizer but the maroon and white of Athea were not going to be out done and great credit is due to trainer Colm Hassett for having this team is such fine form as they held on for a great win on the night. Jamie Collins accepted the cup on behalf of the Athea team to the delight of all the supporters that had travelled. In his speech after Jamie thanked everyone, he mentioned Dan McMahon who sustained an injury early in the week and we take this opportunity to wish him a speedy recovery and no doubt he will be back soon wearing an Athea jersey. We now look forward with great anticipation to our must win match against Croom in the Intermediate Championship this Sunday evening at 7pm in Newcastle West.Team: Timmy Enright, Shane Tierney, Padraig Reidy, Denis Greaney, Michael Reidy, Paul Collins, Raymond Brouder, Tom Collins, Jamie Collins, Darren Murphy, Patrick Ahern, Tom Greaney, Kevin Murphy, Mark O’Connor, Gerard Ahern, Jonathan Fitzgerald, Matthew Tierney, Conor Mullane, Neilus Hunt, Michael Ahern, Dylan Griffin, Kevin Mahony, Jason Quille, John Geoghegan, Brian McKenna, John Cotter, Gary Vaughan, Eoin McCarthy, Kevin O’Keeffe & Morgan O’Connor. Manager: Noel Barry. Selectors: Sean McMahon & Martin Doyle. A special thank you to Davy Mann of Mann’s Hotel, Rathkeale for providing refreshments and hot food for all the supporters and the team after the match.
Minors:
Feale Rangers 1–13 Dromcollogher/Broadford 2–7
The Athea/ Mountcollins combination of Feale Ranger played their second match away to Dromcollogher/Broadford on Tuesday evening last. A much tougher test was expected this time round after an easy win over Shannon Gaels in our first match. We started well with a Stephen Cahill point from a free. James Ryan then scored a lovely point to put us two up. The home team levelled matters with a couple of points of their own but James Ryan was on target once again to put us a point ahead. Dromcollogher/Broadford hit us with a major blow when they scored a goal and two points mid-way through the first half. Feale Rangers came back into the game brilliantly, our backs led by Jamie Lenihan and Dylan Griffin tightened up closing down all the oppositions attacks on goal. Our forwards started moving better and six unanswered points, four for Stephen Cahill and one each for Conor Moroney and William Sexton brought us back into the game. The home team pulled one back before the break to leave us one point ahead at half time. We got the perfect start to the second half, when Stephen Cahill fielded a high ball and ran forty yards through the Dromcollogher/Broadford defense to score a great goal. Moments later Stephen pointed a free from all of fifty yards to put us five points ahead. Gary Vaughan who had a great game traded points with the home team as he scored a brace with ten minutes to go. The opposition then got a goal to leave just two points between the teams. Once again our backs answered the call with super defending by Dan Mullane and Jonathan Fitzgerald, but a fantastic point from man of the match Stephen Cahill ensured victory for Feale Rangers on a scoreline of Feale Rangers 1-13, Dromcollogher/Broadford 2-7. Team: Kieran Harnett, Dan Mullane, Jonathan Fitzgerald, Thomas Sexton, Dylan Griffin, Jamie Lenihan, William Mullane, Gary Vaughan, Stephen Cahill, Padraic Walsh, Conor Moroney, James Ryan, Padraig Collins, William Sexton, Jamie O’Brien, Roger Carmody, Jason Dalton, Keith Murphy, Brian O’Connor & Gavin O’Reilly.
Fixtures:
Sunday August 11:
Intermediate Championship:
Athea Intermediates play Croom in the third round of the Intermediate Championship in Newcastle West next Sunday August 11 at 7pm. Try to be there to support our boys.
Friday August 16:
Feale Rangers are at home to Ballysteen/St.Senans on Friday evening August 16 at 7pm. All players to be at the field for 6.30pm
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.
Sponsorship:
We would like to thank Gerard White of White’s Bar for his kind sponsorship towards the Club. It is greatly appreciated.
Church Gate Collection:
We would like to thank all those who gave so generously to our church gate collection last weekend. Total collected was €971. As always your support is greatly appreciated.
Athea Coiste na nÓg:
Matches:
Tuesday July 30/ Thursday August 1
U12’s:
Our U12’s were very busy this week travelling to Páirc Uí Rinn in Cork and playing Fr.Casey’s in Páirc na nGael. A bus left the village at 11.30am on Tuesday morning for Páirc Uí Rinn with 18 very excited boys and girls on board. We played six games in total, as we had arrived early we played three extra games to warm up for our group. We lost our first match in our group against Aghada but we had a great win against Doonbeg in our second match with great goals being scored by Claire Carmody, Jamie O’Mahony, David O’Connor and Sarah O’Connor. Our last match was a great battle against Bantry and once again Claire Carmody was on the score sheet with a point along with John Sexton, while Jack O’Connor kept Athea ticking over with a goal and a point. All the boys and girls played very well over the two hours and a tour of Páirc Uí Rinn by Cork senior football Paul Kerrigan was enjoyed by all. After a bite to eat in Supermac’s in Mallow, we stopped off on the way home in Dromcollogher to support Feale Rangers Minor football team in what turned out to be a very exciting match.
On Thursday evening last we played Fr.Casey’s but despite our best efforts we lost out to a strong Abbeyfeale side. The highlight for Athea was a cracking penalty scored by David O’Connor in the first half. Other great performances on the night were Claire Carmody, Jamie O’Mahony and Alex McEldowney. Our next match is at home to Mountcollins this Thursday evening so hopefully we will have a much improved performance after a very eventful few days last week. Team: Ciara O’Shea, Danny Brady, Sarah O’Connor, Aidan Curry, David O’Connor, Laura Dalton, Jack O’Connor, Claire Carmody, Nicola Scanlon, John Sexton, Luke Gleeson, Alex McEldowney, Jamie O’Mahony, Sean Sheehan, Jack McCarthy, Jason Dillon, Thomas McEnery, Jack Hunt, Evan Wallace & Luke Gleeson.
Thursday August 1:
U10’s:
The under 10’s played Moyvane in Athea last Thursday in a fine game of football before a good crowd of supporters. Athea dominated the first half with the excellent Michael Tierney and Eoin O’ Shea on top at midfield. Brandon Finucane stood out in the backs and Andrew O’ Riordan and Daire O’ Shea were a constant threat up front, kicking some lovely points. In the second half, Moyvane came more into the game and it was very finely balanced with both teams continuing to play good football. We hope to make the short trip back to Moyvane in the near future for a return match. Our under 10’s are really coming on well with the training and matches and we hope to play Duagh and Rockchapel in the next few weeks.
Team: Adam Byrne, Brandon Finucane, Gavin Ambrose, Fergal Pierse, Conor Mullane, Pierce O’ Brien, Michael Tierney, Eoin O’ Shea, T.J. Hunt, Dermot Pierse, Daire O’ Shea, Andrew O’ Riordan and Gearoid O’ Sullivan.
Monday August 5:
U16’s:
Athea 6–12 Dromcollogher/Broadford 0–6
Dromcollogher was the venue as our U16’s travelled there to take on the locals in the league. Having beaten Adare last time out, another good performance was expected and we were not disappointed as these young boys dominated this match from start to finish. We raced into a ten point lead thanks to goals from Brian O’ Connor, James Ryan and Sean Ryan. Dromcollogher/Broadford came back into the game and it was point for point until the break with Padraic Walsh and Joey Kelly also getting in on the score sheet. With a comfortable lead going into the second half, an expected come back by the opposition did not materialise and Athea piled on the pressure for the remainder of the match. Everyone of the six backs Killian O’ Donoghue, Jason Dalton, Conor Fitzgerald, Paul Mahony, Tommy Quaid and Jason Kelly played brilliantly conceding only one point in this half and even though Lorcan McAuliffe had little to do in goals when he was called upon he made a great save. Jack Denihan was prominent at centre forward picking up a lot of breaking ball and linking up with the rest of the forwards. There were great scores taken by our midfield and forwards once again Brian, James, Sean and Padraic adding to their tally, William Sexton and Brian Sheahan also got in on the scoring act with goal and three points between them, leaving the final score Athea 6-12, Dromcollogher/Broadford 0-6. Team: Lorcan McAuliffe, Killian O’ Donoghue, Jason Dalton, Conor Fitzgerald, Paul Mahony, Tommy Quaid, Jason Kelly, Padraic Walsh, Brian O’ Connor, William Sexton, Jack Denihan, James Ryan, Brian Sheahan, Joey Kelly, Sean Ryan, JJ Sheehy, Tony McAuliffe, Micheál Dalton & Jack Vaughan.
Congratulations:
We would like to congratulate our Intermediate team on their great win in the West Intermediate final against St.Mary/Sean Finns on Saturday evening last in Croagh.
Athea United Soccer
Managers for the 2013/14 Season
U-10
Mike Buckley and Tim O’Riordan
U-12
Tim O’Riordan, Sean O’Shea
U-14
Mike O’Connell, Roger Ryan, Mike Buckley
U-16
Gerard Ahern, Kevin Murphy
JERSEYS
All underage managers are asked to return all playing jerseys from last season to Tim O’Riordan as soon as possible.
2013/2014 SEASON
We are now making plans for the 2013/14 season. The club, where it can cater for players, will be entering teams in the various underage divisions for next season. With this in mind the club are interested in persons interested in managing teams that the club will be catering for and entering in the LDSL for next season. Persons interested in being managers or indeed helping out in any way are asked to contact any member of the committee