ATHEA GAA CLUB NOTES
U14 Girls
Best of luck to our U14 team who play Oola in quarter final in Oola Thursday night 29th
U15 Boys
Athea 1-11 St Senans 0-09
We had a hard fought win on Monday last in foynes. We were very tight in numbers with only 1 sub available. We trailed by 5 points (0-8 to 0-3) after a lacklustre first half.
We put in a massive 2nd half out scoring our opponents by 1-8 to 0-1.
This was a great team performance, with some great displays from Tomas ahern, Ciaran Hunt, Jack Sexton, Alex Quinn and Jim Ahern.
Team Tomas Ahern, Sean Twomey, Ciaran Hunt, Calum Buckley , Louis O Sullivan, James Hunt, Evan Curry, Jack Sexton, Rory Cleary, Alex Quinn, Jim Ahern, Timmy O Keeffe and Jamie Quinn.
U16 Girls
Next match is away to Pallasgrean on Monday 16th August in the quarter final.
Best of luck to the team and management in their preparation for this.
Ladies Adult League
Well done to our adult team in Round 4 of the league. They defeated Groody Gaels in Coolcappa Friday night to consolidate their position on the top of the league table. One remaining game v Ahane – Sunday 8th August in Ahane. League final will be played on the weekend of 21st/22nd August.
County Intermediate League Final
Athea 2-18 Monagea 1-14
All roads lead to Newcastle West on Saturday evening on a very warm summer’s evening where Athea contested the County Intermediate League final against Monagea, a team that we had beaten in the West Final just nine days earlier in Abbeyfeale. To reach the final both teams beat their opponents in the semi-finals last Tuesday. Athea beat Kilteely Dromkeen on a scoreline of 0.09 to 0.07. Monagea beat Croom by 1:08 to 0:10 points.
It was Monagea who got off to a faster start with two points from play by the sixth minute. We responded with a goal by Andy Ahern on the 10 minute followed by points from Brian O Connor and Sean Ryan before Monagea’s Tom O Callaghan pegged one back to make it 1:02 to 0:03 at the water break.
In the second quarter Monagea again started fast with a goal by Kieran Brouder followed by two quick points to leave us three down by the 22nd minute. Points from Kevin Murphy, Sean Ryan and Denis Greaney drew us level by half-time.
In the second half we fell a further three behind before we registered our first score, a fine long range point from TJ Hunt who had come on for Jason Kelly. Jamie Collins came on for TJ Doherty and made an immediate impact with his piercing runs and good mop up play. Monagea added two further points before Kevin Murphy and Sean Ryan reduced the deficit to 2 points before the second water break on a scoreline of 1:10 to 1:08.
In the final quarter, Martin Chawke and Jack O’Connor came on for Mike Reidy and Brian O’Connor. Martin registered a point in the 54th minute which was quickly added to by the impressive Kevin Murphy to level the game in the 56th minute. Jamie Baynam edged Monagea ahead in the 59th minute before Kevin Murphy got us back level. We had plenty of opportunity to kick on but had four wides in the last 10 minutes. The game ended in a draw in normal time 1:11 to 1:11 leading the game into Extra time.
By now the low sun had disappeared behind the houses as Athea sprung Mark O’Connor and Gerard Ahern in extra time. Monagea kicked two points from both midfielders before Gerard with two points either side of Mark’s fisted point left us 1 point in front at the end of the first period of extra time.
In the second period we upped the tempo with points from Mark O Connor and Sean Ryan before Gerard Ahern scored a goal after a well placed pass to him from Sean Ryan. Wing backs Shane Mulvihill and Dylan Griffin added points. Monagea scored a consolation point to narrow the gap to seven points, The game ended on a scoreline of Athea 2:18 to Monagea’s 1:14.
There were fine individual displays by Monagea’s Kieran Brouder, Tom o’Callaghan and Jamie Baynam however Athea’s substitutions brought power and experience when it was most needed and put daylight between the teams particularly in the second period of extra-time.
There were great celebrations afterwards as Dylan Griffin lifted the cup to bring County Silverware back to Athea. Great credit is due to the Management under Eamon McElligott, Mike Ahern and Roger Ryan with Patricia Lynch as Physio.
Team:
Kieran Hartnett, TJ Doherty, Tommy Quaid, Podge Reidy, Shane Mulvhill 0:01, Denis Greaney 0:01, Dylan Griffin (C)0:01 , Jonathan Fitzgerald, Mike Reidy, Mark Reidy, Sean Ryan 0:04 , Andy Ahern 1:0, Brian O’Connor 0:01, Jason Kelly, Kevin Murphy 0:04
Subs:
Jamie Collins for TJ Doherty, TJ Hunt 0:01 for Jason Kelly, Jack O Connor for Brian O’Connor, Martin Chawke 0:01 for Mike Reidy,
ExtraTime Subs: Mark O Connor 0:02 for Mark Reidy, Gerard Ahern 1:02 for Andy Ahern
Upcoming Fixtures
Tuesday July 27th
U12 Girls vs Gerald Griffins in Athea @7:45pm
Thursday July 29th
U13 Boys vs Shannon Gaels in Athea @7pm
U14 Girls vs Oola in Oola
Club Development Draw
Tickets for our annual Club Development Draw are now on sale through ClubForce or by contacting any seller. The draw will take the same format as last year, with tickets priced at €50 covering 5 draws August – December 2021. Your continued support is greatly appreciated.
PHOTOGRAPHS
Athea – Limerick Intermediate League Champions 2021
Captain Dylan Griffin pictured with his proud grandfather Gerry Griffin