Athlone 0-15 Tyrrellspass 0-15
The Athlone GAA senior football team earned what could be a crucial point in their efforts to stay in Division 1 of the ACFL when they played out an exciting draw away to Tyrrellspass on Sunday morning.
Taking place in ideal early summer conditions, this was a tit-for-tat battle between two evenly matched teams all the way through, with never more than two points between the sides at any stage.
Athlone put in what was probably their best attacking display of the league campaign to date, with the full-forward line of Cillian Lynn, Kian Mitchell and Conor Rushe especially impressive as they accounted for 0-11 of their side’s total, while Benny Martin also did very well in an unfamiliar midfield role.
The defence worked very hard against good quality opponents and will be very frustrated at conceding so many scoreable frees, especially with a free taker of Ger Egan’s calibre in opposition, but overall, it was a very encouraging performance from the entire team which should give them confidence going into their last two league games.
The next confirmed fixture for the management and players is the round nine fixture at home to Mullingar Shamrocks on Saturday, June 1, at 7.30pm, although there is also the chance that the rearranged game away to Coralstown-Kinnegad will be played on this Sunday, May 26, so keep an eye on the cub’s social media for confirmation of that match.
Athlone - Darren Costello, Paddy Ryan, Noel Mulligan, James Finlass, Michael Byrne (0-1 ), Diarmuid Martin, Kieran Colclough, Benny Martin (0-2 ), John Stapleton, Mark Egan, Sean Dowd, Stephen Flaherty, Cillian Lynn (0-7 ), Kian Mitchell (0-2 ), Conor Rushe (0-2 ). Subs Used: Daniel Reid, Eamon Martin (0-1 ), Johnny Martin, Matty Darling.
GFA League Division 6
Athlone 2-10 Loughnavalley 2-10
The club’s junior women played out an exciting draw when, helped by goals from Keeva Reid and Ciara Murphy, they put in a great comeback to earn a share of the spoils against Loughnavalley at the opposition’s venue on Friday evening.
It was great to see Athlone bring a panel of 20 players to an away second team match, while there was a big contribution from the younger girls in the squad, some of whom were making their first competitive appearance in adult football.
Underage Results
Athlone minor boys were awarded the points when scheduled opponents Milltownpass conceded their league fixture, while the U16 boys were unlucky to lose by 3-9 to 1-11 to St Mary’s Rochfortbridge in their Division 3 game.
Meanwhile, in the U14 boys’ leagues, the Athlone Blues team were defeated by a very strong St Loman’s team, but the Whites team continued their good run by defeating Lilliput Gaels.
