Athea United Soccer

U-8 FRIENDLY v KILLEANEY  (Sat, March 28th) 

Last Saturday afternoon we made the short journey to Knockdown to play Killeaney in an under eights friendly and which was the first ever game for these young players. For the past few months we have being running an under eight academy on Saturday mornings in the hall so this was going to be a new experience for the players and manager Pa Walsh.

On a cold afternoon the Athea players took to the pitch eager to play their first game and its fair to say they all acquitted themselves very well.

Killeaney were much more experienced than us and they went ahead when the striker reacted quicker after the ball rebounded off the crossbar. They added two more goals as the first quarter elapsed but this didn’t phase the Athea players and we got our first goal in the thirteenth minute when Eric Barrett placed the ball under the advancing keeper. We were having a good spell now and not long after our first goal we got a second when Fionn Histon coolly slotted the ball to the net and at half time Killeaney were just ahead.

The second half was similar to the first with Killeaney starting well and scoring a few goals in the third quarter but in fairness Athea rallied for a second time and two good goals from Louis O’Sullivan saw us close the gap before Killeaney finished the scoring with a late goal.

It was a good game of football overall from our point of view as it gave the players their first taste of football against a well organised and experienced Killeaney side. Its all a learning curve for our players who tried hard and I must say it was fantastic to see so many parents there on Saturday and indeed grandparents too. You don’t learn everything in one day and we hope to organise more games over the coming weeks and these games will give the players more confidence. Well done to all the Athea Utd players and thanks to Killeaney for the game on Saturday, looking forward to the return game in the near future.

Team – Jamie Collins, Sean Toomey, Jamie O’Mahoney, Jamie Flynn, Eric Barrett, Louis O’Sullivan, Fionn Histon, Alex Quinn, Jack Sexton, Jim Ahern, Tony Ahern, Tom Ahern, Jamie Quinn.

U-10 FRIENDLY (Sat, March 21st) 

Athea Utd 1   Evan Curry     Killeaney 3

Team: Donnacha Barrett, Calum Gleeson, James Lee, Michael Walsh, Evan  Curry, Callum  Buckley, Louis O’Sullivan, James Broderick, James Hunt, Ciaran Hunt, Timmy Keeffe, Rory Mahony, Rory Cleary, Josh Quilter.

PREMIER DIVISION (Sat, March 28th) 

Abbeyfeale Utd A 8    Athea Utd A          0    

Team – Mark O’Connor, Kevin Murphy, Jamie Collins, Mathew Tierney, Joe Vaughan, Cillian O’Connor, Ger Ahern, Ger Collins, Pa Kiely, Mike Reidy, John Cotter. Subs William Cronin, Dan McMahon, Gary Carroll. Referee John Roche.

FIXTURES

Thursday, April 2nd

U10s home to Broadford Utd B at 7pm

Sunday, April 5th

Junior As away to Newcastle West Rvs A at 2.30pm

LAST MAN STANDING 

This coming weekend sees our last man standing competition resume after the international break with round nine. In round eight all ten people in contention progressed and for those still in we ask them to forward their selection for week nine.

Best of luck to everyone left in the competition.

Brown Joe’s Bar are sponsoring this Last Man Standing Competition with €300 going to the winner and the club thanks them for their sponsorship. We also have a €50 sellers prize to the person that sells the winning line.

TRAINING AT THE VALES

In 2008 we undertook a major development with the installation of a synthetic training area, known as ‘FIELDTURF’ which is the only one of its kind in Co. Limerick and is approved to FIFA standards. There has being a huge amount of interest from clubs, leagues, companies in the years since. To book your slot for either training or leisure contact Pat on (087)7934417 or Denis on (087)2069900. Slots are very limited so ring us today.

ATHEA UTD LOTTERY RESULTS FOR MONDAY, MARCH 30th 

The results of our weekly lottery draw for Monday, March 30th at The Top of the Town on are as follows –
Jackpot was €18,300. Numbers drawn 6, 7, 21, 26.

No Jackpot Winner.
Lucky dips to the following –  B O’Connor, Glantine. Eddie Horgan, Listowel. Breda & Tony Shanahan, Newcastle West. Maura Ahern, Athea. Jas O’Connor, Kilcolman.

Sellers  Declan Barrett & Agatha.

New Jackpot €18,400 at Donie’s on Monday, April 6th.
Tickets €2 each or three for €5

Athea GAA

Matches:

Tuesday March 24:

West Intermediate Football Championship:

Athea 2-06        Castlemahon 1-08.

We played Castlemahon in a very lively encounter under lights in Mountcollins in the West Intermediate football Championship. It was Castlemahon who started well scoring a goal after a few minutes of the throw-in. Shane Mulvihill pointed from a free after Mark O’Connor had been fouled. The opposition scored their first point of the match after ten minutes, but Shane Mulvihill rose the white flag again to narrow the gap. After Castlemahon scored their next point Athea hit a purple patch, our backs were much tighter and our forwards were causing all sorts of problems for their defenders and we scored 1-03 to take a three point lead. Pa Kiely with the goal after great work by Mark O’Connor and Jonathan Fitzgerald and Shane Mulvihill with the points. Castlemahon scored two more points before the break to leave the half time score, Athea 1-05, Castlemahon 1-04. In the second half, scores were hard to come by and Castlemahon came more into the game and with the game been played at championship pace it was always going to be a tight finish. Castlemahon scored three unanswered points to take the lead. Pa Kiely split the posts to narrow the gap to a single point. With five minutes left Pa Chawke sent in a high lobbing ball that looked like going wide, but Mark O’Connor fielded it and stuck it to the back of the net to give us a two point lead. Castlemahon reduced the lead with a pointed free but our boys held out for a great win in a fantastic game of football. Team: Ger Collins, Raymond Brouder, Matthew Tierney, Eoin McCarthy, Shane Mulvihill (0-5), Denis Greaney, Michael Reidy, Jamie Collins, Pa Chawke, Padraic Walsh, Mark O’Connor (1-0), Shane Tierney, Kevin Mahony, Jonathan Fitzgerald, Pa Kiely (1-1). Subs: Neilo Keane (Kevin O’Mahony) & Dan McMahon.

Sunday March 29:

Football League Division 3:

Athea 1-08        Cappamore 0-08.

We travelled the long journey to Cappamore on Sunday last to take on the locals in the third round of the Division Three league. This was a game of two halves and with Athea playing with the wind in the first half; we went in at the break seven points up. Pa Chawke and Mark O’Connor gave us a two point lead and then Shane Mulvihill scored a super point from way out in the wing. We were four points ahead after eight minutes when Pa Chawke got his second point of the day. The home team attacked, but Matthew Tierney somehow saved the ball on the line. A long ball in from Gerard Ahern was well won by Jamie Collins and he laid it off to Patrick Ahern who scored a great point on his return from injury. Jonathan Fitzgerald pulled of a brilliant save from a penalty but Cappamore got their first point with six minutes left in the half. Further points from Padraic Walsh, Pa Chawke and Mark O’Connor left the half time score, Athea 0-08, Cappamore 0-01. The second half was always going to be tough playing into the strong wind and the home side scored two quick points to reduce the lead. Raymond Brouder had a super block down to prevent a certain score. Jamie Collins was fouled in the box and Gerard Ahern converted the resulting penalty to give us an eight point lead after ten minutes. Unfortunately we failed to score for the rest of the match and the opposition piled on the pressure scoring five unanswered points, but we held on to make it three wins out of three in the league, as we face Bruff in the next round at home next Tuesday April 7.  Team: Jonathan Fitzgerald, Raymond Brouder, Matthew Tierney, Eoin McCarthy, Shane Mulvihill, Denis Greaney, Michael Reidy, Jamie Collins, Pa Chawke (0-3), Padraic Walsh (0-1), Mark O’Connor (0-2), Shane Tierney (0-1), Gerard Ahern (1-0), Patrick Ahern (0-2), Pa Kiely. Subs: Neilo Keane (Shane Tierney), Dan McMahon (Patrick Ahern), Dylan Griffin (Eoin McCarthy), Garry Carroll (Shane Mulvihill), Jason Dalton (Padraic Walsh) & Brian Ahern (Pa Kiely).

Fixtures:

County Intermediate Football League Division 3:

Tuesday April 7:

Round 4:

We play Bruff at home in the Fourth round of Division three of the County football league on Tuesday April 7 at 7pm. All support would be greatly appreciated.

Junior B Football League:

Thursday April 9:

Round 1:

We play Glin away in the first round of the Junior B football league on Thursday April 9 at 7pm. All support would be greatly appreciated.

Club membership:

For those who have not yet become members of Athea GAA Club they can still do so. This is a great way of supporting the Club at only a cost of €20 for the year. This also entitles you to put your name in for match tickets for every championship game Limerick will play and also All Ireland Final tickets. The GAA has the largest membership of any sports organization in Ireland. When one becomes a member of Athea GAA club, they become part of our GAA family and part of a great community based organization that continues to enhance the lives of so many people both young and old. If you would like to become a member of our Club please contact any of our committee members or Jacqueline on 086-0670091.

Limerick Club Development Draw:

The Limerick Club draw known more commonly as the Mackey Stand draw will commence in March. This is a hugely important source of revenue for our Club. It costs €100 for the year which enters you in ten monthly draws. For more information please contact Mairead Donovan on 087-7703673. Our ticket sellers are out and about, so if you can please support.

Gym Equipment:

If there is anyone around the Parish with any unwanted gym equipment that they would be interested in donating to the Club e.g. thread mill, Cross trainer, Benches, etc., we would greatly appreciate it. This would be of great help with the training of our senior teams. The benefits and rewards of having such equipment would be an added advantage to our boys. We would gladly collect any item and you can contact Jacqueline on 086-0670091 for more details.

Intermediate Football Championship Draw 2015:

There are two groups of six teams who will contest the Championship.

Group 1: Claughaun, Feohanagh/Castlemahon, St.Senans, Mountcollins, Hospital/Herbertstown & Bruff.
Group 2: Oola, Mungret, Galbally, Cappamore, Athea & Glin

Round 1: Athea V Glin, April 23-26
Round 2: Athea V Cappamore, May 8-10
Round 3: Athea V Galbally, June 5-7
Round 4: Athea V Mungret, August 7-9
Round 5: Athea V Oola, August 28-30

Quarter-Final: September 5

Semi-Final: September 19

Final: October: 3

West Junior B Football Championship Draw 2015:

We are in group B in the Junior B Championship along with Rathkeale, Ballysteen, Glin and St.Kierans.

County Minor 13 aside Football Championship Draw 2015:

There are eight teams contesting the County Minor 13 aside competition this year. Athea, Castlemahon, Crecora Manister, Mountcollins, Kilteely/Dromkeen, Croom, Galtee Gaels & Granagh/Ballingarry.

West Minor A Football Championship Draw 2015:

There are four teams contesting the Minor A Championship Athea/Mountcollins Rangers, Ballysteen, Deel Rangers and Gael na Sionna.

Athea Coiste na nÓg:

Match;

Monday March 30:

U15s:

Athea 1-00       Shamrock Gaels 3-02

Our U15s were back in action on Tuesday night last when we took on Shamrock Gaels at home in Páirc na nGael in very wet and windy conditions. We were playing against a strong wind in the first half and it was backs to the wall stuff for our young team. Our backs were under extreme pressure, but they coped very well leaving us just five points adrift at the break. In the second half, we tried hard but just could not find a way through Shamrock Gaels very tight defense. We conceded two goals midway through the half, but our boys did not drop their heads and gave it their all till the final whistle. David O’ Connor scored a great goal from twenty yards but time ran out and Shamrock Gaels ran out winners on the night. Team: Cathal O’ Brien, Joseph Dalton, Micheál Dalton, Jamie O’ Mahony, David O’ Connor, Shane Ambrose, Jack O’ Connor, Seamus Leahy, John Sexton, Danny Brady, Daniel McEldowney, Ryan Greaney, Jack Hunt, TJ White, Luke Gleeson, Brandon Finucane, TJ Hunt & Thomas McEnery.

Fixtures:

Wednesday April 1:

Athea U15s are away to Rathkeale on Wednesday April 1 at 6.15pm. Cars leaving the village at 5.15pm. All Players must have gum shields.

Monday April 6:

Athea U16s will play Deel Rangers on Monday April 6 in Páirc Na nGael at 6.45pm. Players to be at the field for 6.15pm. All Players must have gum shields.

Friday/Saturday April 10/11:

U10 Football Blitz:

Our U10’s have a football blitz on the weekend of April10/11. Time and venue to be confirmed.

Training:

Thursday March 26:

U14:

There is no U14 training this week.

Friday April 3:

U6, U8 & U10:

Training commences for U6s, U8s and U10s this Friday April 3 in Páirc na nGael at 6.30pm. All Players must have gum shields.

County:

Limerick Senior Footballers pulled of a great win in Newcastle West on Sunday last beating Clare by eight points on a score line of Limerick 2-10, Clare 1-05. They now make the long journey to Louth and a win will secure Division Three football again next year.

County Football League Division 3 Results:

Cappamore 0-08 :  1-08 Athea

Bruff 2-11  :  1-11 Claughaun

Gerald Griffins 0-12  :  2-07  Mungret St. Pauls

Kilteely/Dromkeen 0-04  :  0-11 Glin