Athea GAA Club Notes:

2025 Premier Junior A Championship:
Having reached last years final against Cappagh in November some will say we are fancied this year. However we have a few players out with injury this year and the management are trying to find the right balance in the team.
This year’s teams in Group 1 are Monagea, Mungret St. Pauls-B, Fr. Caseys-B, Mountcollins, Ballybrown and ourselves.
Group 2 is made up of, Croom, Castlemahon, Ahane, Granagh Ballingarry, Feenagh Kilmeedy and Kilteely Dromkeen
To advance to the Quarter-final Stage we will need to pick up five or six points. We have already slipped up against Mungret St. Pauls so we will have to be efficient in the remaining games. On Friday week, we meet Ballybrown and will be expected to win that one. We meet Mountcollins on September 4th and will hope that this one goes our way. On September 25th we meet Fr. Caseys-B’s which will be a very good indication of where we are this year. Our last group match is on October 9th against Monagea.
We know each of the teams well this year and if we can overcome the slip up in Round 1 by finding some form then we should be in with a chance of advancing to the knockout stage.
The Teams in Group 2 look that bit stronger. Castlemahon are back at Premier Junior having dropped down from Intermediate. Ahane were promoted form Junior A last year and will be expected more success this year. Croom are always competitive and Kilteely Dromkeen will bring East Limerick doggedness. The other two Granagh Ballingarry and Feenagh Kilmeedy will be juggling hurling so it is hard to know what to expect.
The Group stages run until October because the Tailteann Cup has pushed things out.
Anyway we have over two months of matches before the knockout stages so put these dates in the diary.

Club Fixtures:
Woodlands House Hotel County Premier Junior A Football Championship- Group 1-Round 2
Venue: Foynes. Date/time: Friday August 15th 2025 . 7pm
Athea v Ballybrown
In just over one week’s time we meet Ballybrown in Round 2 of the Championship. Let’s hope that the lads can find form and notch up their first win.
Woodlands House Hotel County Junior C Football Championship- Group 2-Round 2
Venue: Athea. Date/time: Sunday August 17th 2025 . 7pm
Athea v South Liberties
Same weekend as the Premier Junior A’s, our second team have their opening match of the Junior C Championship.

Sympathies:
The club would like to extend our sympathies to the Kelleghan family, Knocknagorna on the sad passing of Patsy after a short illness. May he Rest in Peace.

Girls:
Results:
U16 Championship Round 3
Huge well done to our u16’s who played St Patrick’s last Monday night 28th July at 7.30. Played in poor conditions the girls gave their all. This was a close contest with both teams evenly matched – Athea held on till the end winning on score line 4.11 to 5.11. The girls have now qualified for the championship quarter final in two weeks time. Best of luck to the team and management team.

U14 Championship Round 2:
The Athea / Glin combination met a strong St Senan’s team last Wednesday night in Foynes. Playing into a gale for the first half the girls found it hard to score and despite great work by the defence we trailed at the break. Conditions calmed in the second half and the girls worked hard to get themselves well into the game. Unfortunately they didn’t have enough to make up the deficit. Athea / Glin 2.4 to St Senans 3.6.

Fixtures:
Intermediate Championship
Our girls will start their championship this Sunday 10th August v Monaleen in Athea at 7 pm. Best of luck to the girls and management team in their preparation.

Hurling:
Hurling training will continue over the summer. Wednesday nights 7pm to 8pm for U14 and U16. Sunday morning for all ages 10 am to 11 am

Split the bucket:
The last draw took place the 28th of July. The lucky winner of €266 was Carol O Connor. The next draw will take place on Monday the 11th of August
The tickets can be Purchased at Collins shop, Ger Whites bar, Brown Joes bar, Gables Grill, O’Riordans Pharmacy, Credit Union, Bingo Friday evenings and also online @ https://atheagaa.clubforce.com/products/draw/athea-gaa-draw

Club Development Draw:
This annual Draw is the clubs main and long established fund raiser.
The tickets cost €50 for entry to 5 monthly draws, with a top prize each month of €500, followed by €300, €200 and 4 x€100 prizes. There are extra cash prizes in the December draw and a free club draw ticket for the 2026 draw also drawn each month.
The total prize fund is worth a guaranteed €7450.
Draw promoters will be calling to houses around the parish in the coming weeks before the first Draw in August.
People can also join online or by contacting any club officer, or call club chairman John Hunt at 087 7875378.
Please Support our club and parish.

Membership:
Our 2025 membership registration is now live. Please see link to register with the club and purchase our club draw tickets for 2025, all players need to register ahead of the season and we would encourage everyone to become a member and purchase a ticket for our club draw as it all helps towards the running and up keep of the club and walking track.
https://atheagaa.clubforce.com/products/membership