This Friday night, April 19, promises to be a very busy and exciting one in Páirc Chiaráin Athlone with the club’s senior men, intermediate ladies and minor boys all in competitive action on home soil.
The club’s ladies will be hoping to continue their winning start to League Division 3 when they open proceedings against The Downs at 6.30pm, while the minor boys team will also aim to continue their good start when they host New Forest Gaels at 7.15pm. Finally, the club’s senior men welcome reigning county champions St Lomans in a crucial ACFL Division 1 fixture at 8pm, in game that should see several members of Westmeath’s recent NFL Division 3 winning team in action.
The weather forecast for Friday is more positive than it has been recently so a large crowd is expected in Páirc Chiaráin for what should be a thrilling evening of football. With that in mind, Athlone GAA is encouraging supporters to leave the car at home if possible or to share a lift with friends as parking spaces will be at a premium.
The club bar will also be open on the night so it would be great to welcome supporters in for a drink and some post-match analysis after the games.
The action for the weekend does not end on Friday as Athlone’s new junior ladies team host Ballycomoyle in League Division 6 at 11am on Sunday morning, while the club’s junior men’s team are at home to Shandonagh in an important ACFL Division 4 game on Tuesday, April 23, throw-in at 8pm and hopefully there will be plenty of support out for these games also.
Underage Results
Unfortunately, the persistent wet weather meant that most of the club’s underage games scheduled for this week were cancelled or postponed with only the U12 boys’ teams making it on to the field of play.
The Athlone U12 Blues played Kinnegad on Friday evening in tough conditions in Páirc Chiaráin. Although Athlone started slowly, they fought back well in the second half but, unfortunately, they couldn’t claw back enough scores to secure victory. Athlone’s scorers included Cillian Coughlan 2-0, James Purtill 1-2, Seamus Kilroy 1-0, Eoghan Silke 0-2, Olly Nicholson 0-2, Sam Gunning 0-1. Well done to everyone on a great second half display.
Meanwhile, Athlone U12 Whites had a great win against Kilucan 7-2 to 5-2 in a fiercely contested Division 4 game away in Killucan on Sunday morning. The coaches asked the team to focus on blocking and there were some great blocks throughout the game from Neil Boyle, Dylan Cunningham, Donnacha Hughes, Anthony Antendido and Fionn Clarke. Scorers were Zihao Lu 1-1; AJ King 2-0; Olly Nicholson 2-1; Dylan Dollery 1-0; Dylan Cunningham 1-0. Well done to everyone for making the long journey.
