Athlone IT soccer teams secure two trophies in seven days

AIT soccer club rounded off a successful season last week by claiming two trophies. The senior men's first team were first to claim silverware by defeating GMIT Castlebar in the Umbro CFAI Plate final. GMIT had home advantage with the game being hosted by Castlebar Celtic FC. Conditions were atrocious with heavy wind and rain making constructive football tough to create. However AIT were on top early in the game with Conor Jordan in particular command in the centre of the pitch. Athlone Town's Stephen Relihan created the opening for the first goal when he played striker Enda Morris through the GMIT defence. Morris made no mistake to put the visitors 1-0 up. Morris was denied twice before half-time by the home goalkeeper and the half finished without too much threat to AIT custodian TJ Forde. GMIT exerted more pressure in the second half but never really looked like breaching the AIT defence. The sending off of St. Peter's player Kevin Dunne made matters difficult but Aidan Reilly joined his first cousin Neil Harney in the centre of defence, having started at centre forward. A golden opportunity to virtually wrap up the game was presented to AIT in the 67th minute when Enda Morris was taken down in the box for a penalty. Dan Cunningham fluffed his lines and his poorly struck penalty was easily saved. GMIT took great heart from this let off and at this stage they were pressing hard for an equaliser. The game was put beyond the reach of the home team, however, in the 77th minute when an 80 yard clearance by Dan Cunningham found its way over the 'keeper into the net. The win was fully deserved and is great reward for the team and manager Michael O'Connor who will look forward to greater success next season. WSCAI Intervarsities The women's team retained the WSCAI Intervarsity Plate following four tough games at CIT last week. A first group game with NUI Galway saw the Athlone women take the lead midway through the first half but this lead was surrendered and a 1-1 draw was the result. With three teams in each group, the winner progressed to the cup semi final and the second placed team to the plate semi final. Third placed teams returned home empty handed and this put added pressure on the last group game v IT Sligo. Sligo were better throughout the game and held a 2-0 lead entering the late stages of the match. AIT required a goal to send them through to the plate competition on goals scored as NUI Galway had failed to score in their 1-0 defeat to Sligo. The goal duly arrived four minutes into injury time via Sinead Taylor. This set up a plate semi-final match with IT Tralee. Sinead Taylor scored all four goals in a 4-0 win and this win gave the team great confidence going into the plate final. DCU were the opponents in a tense final that saw both sides create plenty of clear cut chances. AIT showed great confidence and composure probably due to the fact that they were the holders of the WSCAI Plate, having beaten IT Sligo 2-1 in the final twelve months previously. The first AIT chance arrived when the outstanding Marion Murray was very unlucky not to see her 25th minute shot brilliantly saved by the DCU net minder. Alicia Hunston was in top form in the AIT goal and she was forced to make three good saves in the game. The game was won in slightly controversial circumstances when Emma Curley intercepted a DCU attack inside the AIT box. There were suspicions of handball but Curley's clearance was controlled by Roisin Williams and played behind the DCU defence. Sinead Taylor outpaced the DCU defence and rounded the goalkeeper to roll the winning goal into the net. Well done to Maz Sweeney and Aisling Egan for coaching the team to success for the second season running.