Athenry GAA Report September 2006

Athenry GAA Club Golf Society; The society held an outing at Ballinrobe on Saturday last. The winner with a fine score of 40 points was Shane Donohue, in second place was Cormac Cloonan and third place went to Jarlath Cloonan, Johnny Higgins was fourth.

The golf society are having a weekend away at the Philip Walton designed Dundrum House Hotel and Golf Club on September 15th and 16th to include 2 nights B&B 1 evening meal and two rounds of golf, the cost is €255 to include golf or €l75 for non-golfers. Bookings with Julie Carr at 086 8363717.

Junior A Football Championship. Athenry returned to the raw intensity of championship football on Sunday last at Monivea when they had a good win over Tuam Stars on a scoreline of 1. 10 to 1. 9, this win takes Athenry into a North Board Semi – Final. Despite the neatly laid table in the Athenry dressing room with oranges and flavoured fruit drinks, this was no picnic in the park as both teams played with an intensity that only championship knockout can bring and this continued to the final whistle which included an extra nine minutes added time in the second half. Part of this nine minutes was to give treatment to Tuam player Alan Colleran who received a knock during the second half and who, we have been informed has recovered well.

Athenry played with the wind in the first half but it was Tuam who controlled the game and had scored 1. 2 after ten minutes to a Tim Rabbitte point, however points from play from Paddy Quinn, David Donohue, Declan Byrne (2) and two placed balls from Ciaran Kilkelly left Athenry level at the break. Athenry, no doubt inspired by some well -hosen words from manager James Foran during the interval started the second half with a more determined attitude and quickly had a point from play from Declan Byrne, this was followed by an excellent goal from the boot of David Donohue to give them a three point advantage and with the defence forcing the Stars to shoot from distance together with late points from Ciaran Kilkelly and David Donohue, Athenry held off a late Tuam siege and nine minutes of added time to win by just the one point. Afterwards manager Foran said he was proud of the character and never say die attitude shown by his players. Scorers, D Donohue 1 – 2, D Byrne 0 – 3, C Killkelly O – 3, T Rabbitte 0 – 1, P Quinn 0 – 1.

Fixtures. Athenry Junior Hurlers at grades B and C are scheduled to play Quarter Final matches this weekend. Our Senior hurlers are scheduled to play a home league game against Mullagh also this weekend. Please see local press for details.

The eagerly awaited Co. Championship ‘A’ U-14 Football Final between Athenry and Tuam Stars takes place next Saturday 2nd September at 12 noon in Pearse Stadium Galway. Please note this is an hour earlier than previously arranged. Your support would be much appreciated.

Lotto. Winning numbers for Sunday August 20th, 3, 18, 20, 31. Match three winners, L S A Cannon, Margaret Noone, Jacqualine Geeney.

Results. Pride of place this week goes to our Junior B and Junior C hurlers who both came through their quarter final matches to advance to the county semi – finals, both semi – finals are scheduled for Saturday September 16th.

In the Junior B Athenry played city side St Columbas. Playing against the wind Athenry went in at the break leading by 7 points to six. In the second half Athenry added 1 – 6 and conceded just the one point to run out winners on a scoreline of 1 – 13 to 7 points.

Scorers T Howley 1 – 1, A Healy 0 – 4, S Fahy 0 – 3, B Farrell O – 2, M Tracey 0 – 1, M Loughnane 0 – 1, T Kelly 0 – 1. In the Junior C game, also played at Loughrea, Athenry defeated Portumna by 4 – 7 to 14 points, this game was a good example of goals winning games with Athenry lashing in four, two in each half. In the first half Athenry struck early and late to lead at the break by 2 – 4 to 8 points, in the second half Athenry continued the goal rush to see them over the winning line, with the full forward line contributing 4 – 3. Scorers, C Flannery 2 – 1, L O‘Brien 1 – 2, T Burke l- 0, S Kelly 0 – 2, C Byrne 0 – 1, M Kelly 0 -1.

Senior Hurling League. In the past week Athenry played two senior hurling league matches, losing to Clarinbridge on a scoreline of 2 – 15 to 2 – 14. In the second game they beat Mullagh by 1 – 20 to 1 – 9.

Lotto Winning numbers for Sunday August 27th – 1 10 15 26.

Good luck to our juvenile club as they contest the county under 14 football final against Tuam Stars in the Pearse Stadium on next Saturday at 12 o’clock. Fixtures for next weekend, please see local press for details.

This article was first published in News and Views Sept. 2006