PREMIER DIVISION (Sunday, January 12th)
Athea Utd A      (0) 2  Jamie Collins, Kevin O’Keeffe
Rockhill Rvs     (0) 1
Our As were back in action last Sunday morning with a home league game against Rockhill Rovers at The Vales and we picked up another three points with a deserved win. Weather conditions were terrible with driving wind and rain but once again the excellent surface at The Vales stood up to the test. The first half was evenly contested but we probably shaded in in terms of possession but the affliction of missing penalties returned when Gerard Ahern, after been fouled in the area, took the penalty himself but the Rockhill keeper was able to make an easy save. We could have gone in at the break a goal down as the visitors missed a sitter after their forward rounded the keeper but shot wide with an empty goal to aim at.
The second half was in the main all Athea as the policy of keeping the ball on the deck reaping its rewards with Jamie Collins on the left wing having an outstanding game. It was fitting that when we opened the scoring that Jamie was involved after he skinned the right back and crossed into the box with his cross deceiving the keeper before hitting the inside of the far post and ending in the net. Six minutes later it was two nil when a poor clearance came as far as Kevin O‘Keeffe just outside the right edge of the penalty area and he curled the ball inside the left hand post. We continued to play the better soccer and should have added to our two goal lead but we didn’t but were still comfortable with our defence dealing with what the visitors could throw at us. We probably should have had another penalty when it looked very much like O’Keeffe was brought down by the keeper but it wasn’t awarded. With two minutes left there was a penalty awarded but at the other end when we gave away a stupid penalty which Rockhill scored to set up a needlessly nervous last few minutes of stoppage time. There was no further action and we won two one to remain third in the premier division, our highest ever position in the Desmond League.
Next Sunday we are away to Shannonside in the league and we will be looking to do much better than our last game there when we were well beaten in the Munster Junior Cup by four goals to nil. Kick off on Sunday next is 11.30am.
Team: Pa Ahern, Ryan Carroll, Mathew Tierney, Padraig Reidy, Tom Collins, Maurice Hayes, Shane Mulvihill, Gerard Ahern, Jamie Collins, Kevin Murphy, Kevin O’Keeffe.
Subs used Cillian O’Connor, Martin Chawke, John Cotter.
Referee John Roche.

U11 CUP (Saturday, January 11th)
Abbeyfeale Utd   (1) 5
Athea Utd            (0) 0
Our U11s travelled to our big neighbours Abbeyfeale, knowing that it was going to be a tough assignment. We knew that if we were on our game we could compete with the best of them. As usual this season we got off to a very slow start and were giving away the ball too easy, but we were holding our own as we were only 1-0 down going in at half- time. In the second half we starting getting our rhythm going but we got hit early with an unfortunate goal from Abbeyfeale. We began to play the way this team can play, passing and movement. We were undone with individual brilliance from some of Abbeyfeale players. At the end of the day we held our own and with a little more confidence and belief, who knows. One player who I must mention that had an absolute outstanding game was our goalkeeper Gavin Mulvihill, who saved a penalty and saved point blank range shots on many occasions. Well done to Gavin, and also to all the boys.
Team: Gavin Mulvihill, Gearoid O’Sullivan, Michael Tierney, Brandon Finucane, Gavin Ambrose, Eoin O’Shea, Paric Enright, TJ Hunt, Andrew O’Riordan, Pierce O’Brien, Daire O’Shea, Shane Scanlon, Dermot and Fergal Pierse.
Referee Jim Molyneaux.
LAST MAN STANDING The club have already this season run a very successful Last Man Standing Competition which was won by Tadgh Culhane from Glin. We are now back in action again with the next competition commencing on the weekend of Saturday, Sunday, Monday, February 1st/2nd/3rd 2014. Cards are now available for this competition from any committee member and cards are also available from our Junior A and Junior B players. Lines are just €5 and for this you could win the €300 prize money which is generously being sponsored by Brown Joes Bar, Athea and the club would like to thank Tommy O’Grady for the sponsorship. There is also a sellers prize of €50 for the person that sells the winning line.
All cards must be returned by Saturday, January 25th 2014.

ATHEA UTD LOTTERY RESULTS FOR MONDAY, JANUARY 13th
The results of our weekly lottery draw held on Monday, January 13th at JP’s Bar are as follows
Jackpot was €12100. Numbers drawn 8, 13, 22, 23. No jackpot winner.
Lucky dips to the following – Sharon Guina, Rathkeale. Lilian Fitzgerald, Athea. Paddy McAuliffe, Park, Athea. Dermie Moynihan, Rathmore. Gearoid Keane, Duagh.
Sellers Margaret Dalton & Mike Buckley.
New jackpot will be €12200 on Monday, January 20th at The Top of the Town..
Tickets €2 each or three for €5