St Pauls 2-4 Athlone 1-12
Clonmellon was the venue for the @arcadiaathlone.ie sponsored Athlone ladies opening Junior Championship group game with St Pauls, the contest played in greasy underfoot conditions versus on Friday evening last.
Despite Athlone controlling possession in the opening stages, it was the Clonmellon side who raised the first white flag of the game. However, this would be their final score of the first half. Athlone quickly got to grips with the opposition’s kickout and the St Paul’s ladies found it difficult to breach the tough tackling half back line of Eimear O’Rourke, Leah Nugent and Gemma Mannion.
In attack, Athlone played some good football involving great movement up front and soon found themselves back on terms. A succession of scores meant they took a five point lead, Keeva Reid, Ava Martin, Tara Khan and Ciara Murphy all scored from play and Brionna Geogheghan added two more. The move of the half however came towards the interval when Grace McGlynn tracked her opponent back to her full back line, reclaimed possession and set in motion an Athlone attack which resulted in a Geoghegan free.
Athlone could have been further ahead and almost came to rue some missed opportunities to be further ahead on the scoreboard by half time. Indeed, they were nearly made pay by St Paul’s late in the half when they were denied goals on three occasions, twice by blocks from Jillian Begley and subsequently a diving save by keeper Aoife Temple with Katie Henshaw and Eimear Galvin showing excellent patience and timing in the tackle to snuff out potential threats.
Athlone started the second half in positive mode. Powerful running from Gemma Mannion set up a well taken score by Brionna Geogeghan. Another free from the same player followed and wing forward Niamh Byrne linked well with full forward Keeva Reid adding another from play.
The momentum shifted midway through the half when St Pauls found the net twice. The first goal came from a speculative effort through a crowd of Athlone defenders. St Paul's belief seemed to increase and they were awarded a penalty soon after which was duly dispatched, but the Athlone ladies overall work rate and effort was duly rewarded with a merited win.
Men's Senior and Junior Championship Fixtures
The club's adult men are in preparation for the third round of their respective championships seeking to pick up their first wins.
The junior team are in championship action on Friday, July 21, against neighbours Garrycastle, a game which takes place in Garrycastle at 8pm, while the senior team play Shandonagh on Sunday, July 23, in TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar at 5.15pm.
