Athea GAA

U16’s:

Well there was great support on Saturday last in Rathkeale for the Athea U16s who met Drom/Broadford in the Div 3 championship final. Despite not winning on this occasion, they did themselves proud. Well done to team management Noel Barry, Richard Fitzgerald and Paul Curry. Watch this space and this team who all played extremely well, but we have to mention the outstanding goalie T.J. Murphy and captain John Sexton.

There isn’t much to report on the GAA front at this time of the year, however each day one passes Páirc na nGael there is always someone there working at some job or another, improving the pitch and it’s surrounds. It is indeed looking so well, and considering some pitches don’t even have a stand in them, never mind a track for walking/running – a clubhouse and even a gym for the teams!

Fund-Raising:

Don’t forget, any ideas for fund-raising for 2018 which isn’t too far away. Some that already have come in are “Battle of the Townlands” – “Strictly Dancing”, another Lip-Sync, a Barn Dance, a Danceathon, or to bring some well known band or artist to perform for a night. Have you any fund-raising ideas?

Card Game:
The GAA progressive 41 card game starts back next Monday night at 9p.m. sharp at Brown Joes. All are welcome especially lapsed and inexperienced card players. The game is 2x3s, everyone plays 18 games with the team with most games won, declared the winner, and there are also table prizes and raffle prizes all for cash. Last year we did very well with our starting time and were finished every night for 11p.m. Come along for a great nights enjoyment.

Best 15:
Last week we spoke about picking the best 15 footballers to represent Athea since 1982, the year we won the West Limerick Junior Championship for the first time since 1964. The eighties were successful period for Athea Footballers winning West Junior titles also in ’87 and ’89 as well as  a never to be forgotten three game epic West final which we lost against Rathkeale in 1991. The younger generation would find it hard to understand the kind of shark infested waters the West Junior Championship was back then. There was no Intermediate grade in the county, so it was Novice, Junior or Senior. To give an idea of the strength of the Junior championship at that time, some of the teams taking part were, Athea, St. Senans, Adare, Gerald Griffins, Glin, Castlemahon, Rathkeale and Mountcollins. Future multi Senior Champions Dromcollogher/Broadford were only novice at the time. The Championship was of course knockout, so the first round was trained for like it was the final, and some years it was.  Since winning in ’82, we lost in the first round each year until we won it out in ’87, defeating Gerald Griffins in the final in Newcastle West. We were beaten by Rathkeale in the first round in ’88, but bounced back to defeat a then star studded Rathkeale team in the 1989 final. We were back again in the West final in 1991 only to lose to Rathkeale after three games, the first two in Newcastlewest and the third game in Tournafulla.  For the three success’s in the Eighties Timmy Woulfe was the Manager/ Coach and in 1991 John Anthony Culhane from Glin was the team trainer. There are several players who played in all four finals, but some new young players were to the fore by 1991. The panel for the 1989 Championship was, Tom Stackpoole, T.J. Reidy, John McAuliffe, Tommy Denihan, Noel Cunningham, Pat O’Connor, Bill McAuliffe, Frank Woulfe, John Hunt, Michael Woulfe, Mike McAuliffe, Bill Vaughan, Seamus McNamara, John Liston, Tom Quaid, Tommy White, Tim O’Riordan, Willie O’Connor, James O’Connor, Mark Riordan, John Griffin and Eddie Barrett. By 1991 there were a few notable additions to the panel especially, John Redmond, Henry Scanlon, Gerard Cunningham, Seamus Ahern, Larry O’ Connor and Rockchapel native John Guiney. There were also young guns coming on the scene namely, Mike Ahern, Donal Woulfe and Declan Woulfe.  At this stage of trying to name the best 15 since ’82 we have mentioned over 30 players, but with exciting times to come in ’97 and the noughties, the size of the task is starting to become clear. For those hoping to enter our competition to name the best 15, keep a track of the players mentioned so far and let a committee member know if there has been any notable omissions.

Coiste na nÓg:

Match:

U16 County Final:

Athea 4-04    Dromcollogher/Broadford 0-19

A gallant Athea U16 team came up just short in the U16 county final on Saturday morning last in Mick Neville Park, when they lost by three points to a strong Dromcollogher/Broadford side. The opposition got off to a great start out scoring Athea eight points to two, Aidan Curry and TJ White our scores. A great goal by TJ White brought us back into the game and from the restart, we were level thanks to Conor McAuliffe who intercepted a poor kick out from the opposition goalie and finished the ball to the back of net. Dromcollogher/Broadford rallied again scoring two points on the trot but John Sexton narrowed the gap to a single point with a free following a foul on Jack O’ Connor. Two late points gave the opposition a three point lead at the break. We got off to a perfect start in the second half when Jack O’ Connor found the back of the net from a crowded goal mouth. Dromcollogher/Broadford took the lead again with a point, but we were soon ahead for the first time in the match when Conor McAuliffe scored his second goal of the game. It was end to end stuff for the rest of the match, two points for the opposition brought the game level again, but another pointed free from John Sexton had us in front with two minutes remaining on the clock. Unfortunately we lost our shape completely in the final couple of minutes and Dromcollogher/Broadford scored four unanswered points to take a three point lead.  We re-grouped and had one final effort, but John Sextons shot hit the crossbar and it wasn’t to be. Our boys played their hearts out and left everything they had on the field, they can be very proud of their efforts. Afterwards the team and supporters enjoyed hot food and refreshments at the Clubhouse. A big thank you to anyone who helped out on the day. We wish the boys who are moving onto the minors the best of luck and I have no doubt you will experience success in the near future. Thank you to the management for looking after the team and to all the parents who travelled both near and far to support our boys, it is greatly appreciated. Panel: TJ Murphy, Eoin Sheahan, Alex McEldowney, Brian English, Colin Broderick, Michael Tierney, David O’ Connor, Aidan Curry, Loughlan Foley, TJ White, John Sexton, Jack O’ Connor, Brandon Finucane, Conor McAuliffe, Evan Wallace. Subs: Jack Hunt, Thomas McEnery, Gavin Ambrose, Ryan Greaney, TJ Hunt, Danny Brady, Luke Gleeson, Jamie O’ Mahony and Andrew O’ Riordan.

Parish Leagues:

On Sunday next October 15, we will bringing down the curtain on our Coiste na nÓg season, when we will be holding our Annual Parish leagues for our U6, U8, U10 and U12 teams in Páirc na nGael. All players are asked to be at the pitch for 12 noon. Our U6s will start at 12.10pm, our U8s will start at 12.15pm, our U10s will start at 12.20pm and our U12s will start at 12.25pm. All players must have gum shields in order to take part. This has always been a great day for our young players and their families so we are hoping to see everyone there on the day. All are welcome to attend.

Training:

A text will be sent out to all parents regarding the training times for all age groups for this week.

Athea United AFC

Munster Jun Cup (Sun, October 8^th)

Broadford Utd A (1) 6

Athea Utd A (0) 0

Team: Paul Kennedy, Mike Reidy, Jack Burke, Mathew Tierney, Jamie Collins, Padraig Horgan, Ger Collins, Gerard Ahern, Steven McEnery, Darren Murphy, Dylan Griffin. Subs Andy Ahern, Shane Mulvihill.  

Referee Paul O’Brien

U12 Division 2 (Sat, October 7^th)

Athea Utd 0

Rathkeale 7

Referee Pat O’Donnell

FIXTURES

Saturday, October 14^th   

U10s home to Askeaton at 11.30am

U14s away to Adare Utd at 11.45am

Sunday, October 15^th    

Junior As home to Broadford Utd A at 11.30am

Junior Bs home to Glantine B at 2.30pm

CUP DRAWS

U12 Cup 1^st Round Athea Utd v Shannonside

U14 Cup 1^st Round a bye

U14 Cup 2^nd Round Athea Utd v Kildimo Utd

U16 Cup 1^st Round Mountcollins v Athea Utd

REGISTRATION FOR 2017-18 SEASON

The registration for the 2017-2018 season again remains unchanged from the previous season –
U/8s, U/10s & U/12s €20 per player.
U/14s €25 per player.
U/16s €30 per player.
Juniors As and Bs €50

Underage Family Discount –
There will again be a underage family discount for families of underage players and for each additional child this will be €10.

For example –

An U/16 player and an U/10 player the registration will be €40

An U/14 player and an U/12 player the registration will be €35

TRAINING TIMES

U/10s on Mondays 6pm to 7.30pm

U/12s on Mondays 7.30pm to 8.30pm
U/14s on Thursdays 7pm to 8.15pm
U/16s Wednesdays 7pm to 8.15pm
Junior As on Tuesdays 7.30pm to 8.30pm & Fridays 7.30pm to 9pm.

Junior Bs on Wednesdays 7.30pm to 8.30pm.

ATHEA UTD LOTTERY RESULTS FOR MONDAY, OCTOBER 9^th          
The results of our weekly lottery draw for Monday, October 9^th are as follows –
Jackpot was €8,300. Numbers drawn 2, 15, 22, 31.

No Jackpot Winner.
Lucky dips to the following – Garry Greaney c/o Bingo. M Mangan, Lyre. Bets Lane, Beenanaspug. Treasa Sexton, Coole West. Mgt Daughton, NCW.
Sellers Paudie Reidy & Doreen Cahill.
New Jackpot €8,400 at Batt’s Bar on Monday, October 16^th