Updates:
Congratulations to Players and Management of the Athy Minor Team who won the Leinster Final in Éire Óg on Saturday beating Rhode Óg 12-8
Christmas Draw winners: 1st.Gabriel McConville €1000, 2nd. Gabriel McConville €500 & Joe Robinson,Tony Cardiff &Ger FitzMaurice€500,3rd.Niall McEvoy €250
U-21: Championship Final- The U-21's have reached the Championship Final. This will be the first U-21 Championship Final contested by a team under the name Athy GAA.Previously a parish club taking in more than Athy, St. Michaels, contested the final.No doubt they will be keen to continue the success in the club in 2010, under instruction from their mentors
The team recorded a victory over Sarsfields in the semi-final and will now play Clane in the Final. They came from behind to beat the Sash on a scoreline of 3-02 to 1-12. After leaking 3 goals against their opponents, prospects aren't very good but their never say die attitude, skill and effective intuition from the line enabled them to put the mistakes behind them and push over the finish lane. They will face worthy opposition in Clane who were also comback kings, returning from the dead to beat Celbridge. Keep an eye on the Fixtures Page to get up to date fixture details for the Final.
Minor Leinster Championship: The Minors defeated St. Vincents of Longford and made their way to the next round.
Minor Ladies: The girls have made it 2 from 2 with wins over Clane and Carbury. The beat the former by 4-15 to 2-4 and then on Saturday the 13th beat Carbury on a scoreline of 3-6 to 1-7. It has to be said this could have been more only for some inaccuracy in shooting. Without a doubt they are threatening and under guidance from their mentors should make progress.
Compromise Rules 2010
Athy GFC would like to congratulate James Kavanagh(right) and Emmet Bolton(left) on their inclusion in the Ireland Squad for this Saturday's First test in Gaelic Park, Limerick. They will be part of a 23 man squad led by Armagh's Stephen McDonnell and Vice-Captain Finian Hanley (Galway). The first test, after what was akin to a boxing match in Croke Park last time round, is promising to be a footballing spectacle with the Australians bringing a young fit and skillful group of players. The match will throw in at 7.00pm in Limerick on TG4. For more news, videos, interviews and updates see GAA Website
First Test: Australia came out of Gaelic Park with a 7 point lead with the match concluding at 40-47. Despite a flash of brilliance from Dublin's Bernard Brogan the result was looking ominous. He popped up minutes from the end with a solo run which finished in a net busting goal which brought the sides closer together.Manager Anthony Tohill admitted the goal may have "saved the series". Both Emmet Bolton and James Kavanagh were utilised in a game where Australia employed a style to sap Irish energy. All eyes are now set on Croke Park next Saturday 30th Oct. for the 2nd Test, where passion and intensity are required to reel in the gap and hopefully retain the Cormac MacAnallen Cup.
County Final Day 2010, 17th October
, St. Conleth's Park Newbridge
Well Done to our Minor team who were crowned Kildare Minor County Minor Champions this year. The over came rivals Celberidge by just one point, 1-10 to 1-09 in a nail biting conclusion to what was probably one of the best Minor matches witnessed in St. conleth's Park Newbridge. Both teams put up a tremdous fight to claim the title but to our relief it was a red jersey that lifted the Declan Gilligan Cup for 2010, completing a treble, after wins in 2008 and 2009. Congratulations and thanks has to go to the players but also to the Management Tean who were dedicated and honest in their efforts to create their own little bit of History.
Athy GFC would sincerely like to thank the whole panel and management on their work, we are extremely proud!
The ripple effect of the win was felt throughout the town and indeed throughout the families involved in one way or another in the team and panel. Their were many brother combinations to be traced. There were onwards from 6 or 7 players on the panel thisyear who have past Minor Champions from 2008 and 2009 in the household. Many families like the Mc Governs, Clares, Ronans,O'Keefe, O'Toole, Mulhalls and lots more have mutliple medals in the house through brothers. Almost every other player on the panel has 2 medals as they were on the panel last year. Liam mc Govern and Tony Gibbons share the hounour of having a medal for each of the treble victories and have played in all 3 county finals. Many players also have parent swho were involved in Athy's 1987 Senior County Championship win. The connections and deep-root links are endless with this team and panel. They stand for one of the reasons why this win meant so much to the town. the whole community was effected and this was symbolised by a visit to all schools in the town presenting the cupthat perhaps some day they will be lifting later in their careers.
The Minors weren't the only players who stepped foot on the grass of St. Conleths Park......
Well done to all our U-8 players who took part in the half time Exhibition Match in St. Conleth's Parkon County Final Day.They took to the field wearing their new jerseys, sponsored by Eddie Byrne and Topaz, Kilkenny Road Athy and put on a great show for the huge crowd. They did the club very proud and hopefully soon they will be lifting a cup on the biggest stage in Kildare in Newbridge. They showed off,under mentoring from their managers,the best skills of our National games that they have and ensured the future is bright for Kildare Football, as they faced their U-8 counterparts from Celbridge. Well Done lads!
These are the U-8 Boys who represented Athy: Aodghan Lawler,Niall Mc Evoy,Niall Coffey,Michael Spillane, Sean Rowan,Oisin O'Rourke,James fenin,Michael Hicks,Fiachra Scully,Diarmuid Healy,James Mc Grath,Liam Dooley,Killian Horan,Conor Doyle,Eamon Ward,Richie Maloney,Matthew Henry,John Phillips,James Flemming,Daragh Flood,Luke Connolly,Leo Harris,Robert Maher,Ariel Noonan.
Topaz and Eddie Byrne of Kilkenny Rd. Athy, have proudly sponsored our Underage section with a brand new set of Jerseys. Not only do their services supply the community with the best of goods they are now supporting the youth of the town who endeavour to take part and enjoy our National Games and Culture. The jerseys will be worn by the young talent of the club who represent us year after year to the highest of standards and with great effort. In addition to this Topaz also sponsored our Fundraiser Balloon Race on September 17th which helped raise funds for the club and bring the community together in what was a unique event. Athy GFC would like to express its greatest gratitude to Topaz for their sponsorship of late, but also extends this thanks to all our sponsors right through the club and Tegral our main sponsors. Your support is deeply appreciated and provides us with the chance to promote GAA in Athy.
Balloon Race, Sponsored by Topaz Athy !
Last Friday saw the release of hundreds of Balloons from Athy GAA Geraldine Park. It began the race for a Prize of 400 euro. The balloons took to the clouds watched by the young players of the club and by members of the club and community. They will ride the winds and eventually the tag connected to them will land only to be picked up and re-sent back to Athy GFC. On the 8th of October all returned balloons will be analysed to decipher where they were sent back from. The furthest, 2nd furthest and 3rd furthest destination on the returned tag will earn its buyer a cash prize. Athy GFC would like to thank Eddie Byrne and Topaz, Kilkenny Rd. Athy for their sponsorship in this fundraiser and in addition to this, their sponsorship of the U-8 Jerseys which will be worn by our young talent.
The night was continued with a summer feeling of a BBQ followed by some excellent music in the clubhouse attended by members and players of all ages on a unique and breath of fresh air filled night.
A huge debt of gratitude has to be extended to the buyers of each an every balloon as their support helps the club to continue in providing an outlet for the community to practice our national games and relish in the GAA culture and tradition.
Lastly a thank you is due to the committee and volunteers who worked to set up the fundraiser which has raised ever important funds for the club. Hopefully before the end of the year, further social nights and fundraisers will bring the community together.
Athy GFC would like to wish all participants the best of luck and keep an eye out and an ear open for the results of the competition.
Championship Updates !!!
Senior Championship: R1: Athy 0-14 vs Ellistown 2-8, R2: Athy 0-10 vs Sarsfields 0-16, R3: Athy 0-13 vs Round Towers 1-06, R4: Athy 0-11 vs Leixlip 1-5, Quarter-Final: Athy 2-10 vs Kilcock 0-03
Minor Championship: R1:Athy 3-12 vs Sarsfields 0-13, R2: Athy 1-14 vs Leixlip 0-07, R3: Athy 1-18 vs St. Laurences 1-03
Semi - Final: Athy vs Sarsfields (Oct 3rd in Kilcullen)
U-16 Championship: R1: Athy 5-15 vs Leixlip 0-01, R2: Athy 2-11 vs Clane 2-05, R3: Athy vs Naas, Quarter Final: Beat Leixlip, Semi: Final: Athy 0-15 vs Celbridge 1-10, Final: Athy lost out to Kilcock
