Athlone GAA teams bidding for league success on the treble
Positive vibes were in the air at Páirc Chiaráin last week and it wasn’t all down to the splendid sunshine.
After all, three Athlone GAA teams have qualified for upcoming league finals – the men’s first and ‘B’ teams, as well as the ladies’ team - creating a feelgood feeling around the club.
Athlone’s first team will face Milltownpass in the Westmeath ACFL Division 2 final at TEG Cusack Park on Sunday, June 11 (throw-in 5pm). And the club’s second team will take on Coralstown/Kinnegad in the Division 5 decider at the same venue tomorrow (Saturday, 7pm).
The ladies will have to wait a bit longer with their Westmeath LGFA Division 3 final against St Joseph’s expected to take place in late June, after the Leaving Cert exams have been completed.
Senior team captain Shane Allen has a keen sense of what Athlone GAA is all about, as both sides of his family are steeped in the club.
And with promotion to Division 1 for next year already in the bag, Athlone will be looking for a pre-championship boost in the league decider.
“We’re all putting in a great effort down here and you can see that with the ladies team doing so well and the two men’s teams. It’s great to have three teams in finals and we’re just really looking forward to it,” Shane told the Westmeath Independent.
The second team is an area where Athlone have struggled in recent years, and notably the club didn’t field in a junior championship game on one occasion.
“When the second team is going really well, that’s when the whole club is going well,” said Shane. “You have loads of lads down training and working hard. That brings us on and it’s a big part of it as well. You’re always focused on training knowing that there are lads pushing on. That’s healthy competition for places and what’s what we need.”
Although Athlone still lead the Westmeath SFC roll of honour, the club hasn’t contested a senior championship final since 2003 and a return to the top table has been long awaited.
But Allen said the team’s initial target is to make the knockout stages of the championship - something the club narrowly missed out on last year.
“Everyone needs a bit of luck. We were probably unlucky last year not to beat Killucan and Tyrrellspass. But lads are putting in a huge effort and we’re hoping it will come right,” he said.
Athlone will begin this year’s championship campaign with a clash against old rivals Moate All Whites, before games against Tang, Shandonagh, Mullingar Shamrocks and neighbours Garrycastle. With only two teams qualifying from Section B, the pressure will be on right from the start.
“All games are going to be really tough and it will be very competitive. Bu we’re putting in the hard work and we’re looking forward to the championship,” said Allen.
Last Thursday evening, Athlone hosted Ballaghaderreen of Mayo in a challenge match and Allen feels that playing such opponents “will keep bringing us on”.
With respected Athlone GAA insider Eoin (‘Joey’) Jordan at the helm for a second successive season, Athlone have continuity from last year. “A lot of us know Joey well from schools’ football (with the Marist College); he’s great and gets along so well with the lads,” Shane remarked.
Allen has already captained TUS Midlands to Trench Cup success this year and he’ll be aiming to lift another piece of silverware when Athlone face Milltownpass on Saturday.
Reflecting on the Trench Cup, in which TUS Midlands defeated Dundalk IT in the final with Athlone GAA’s Seamus Mitchell part of the management team, Shane said: “It was really special and to win it with Kieran (Colclough) and a few of the boys was really nice. It was a great end to a long year with the college.”