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to History of GAA in Athlone Part 1 | go
to History of GAA in Athlone Part 3
HURLING
By
this time hurling was also well established in Athlone - Athlone (St.
Ciaran’s) in hurling and Athlone Volunteers in football were affiliated
to Westmeath County Board in 1903. In 1905 these two teams won the county
championships in hurling and football. Athlone again won the football
in 1909.
In 1911 and 1912 Athlone won the Senior Hurling Championship. For obvious
reasons Gaelic Games in Athlone waned during the years of the First
World War. Between the years 1912 and 1921 there is nothing to record
except a junior football championship in 1916 and again in 1921.
With the formation of our own army and Garda force, our native games
came back into their own. The army teams took a very active part in
football and hurling in Westmeath up to the end of the Second World
War.
During
the 1920’s and 1930’s hurling and football flourished in the
town and also in Coosan. Much of this success and popularity is due
to the Marist Brothers. Brother Pascal and Brother Gerald some members
of the old Athlone St. Ciaran’s and other nationally minded men
who had come to live in the town. The army won the Senior Hurling Championship
in 1926 and 1927 and the Senior Football Championship in 1929.
McCrann Cup competitions were organised annually and were keenly contested
by all the local clubs in Westmeath and Roscommon. Athlone won the Junior
Hurling Championship in 1934 and 1936. In 1937 Coosan joined with Athlone
but no major honours were recorded until the late 1940’s. Athlone
also won the Juvenile Football Championship in 1946 and 1947, the Minor
Football title in 1949, 1950, 1952 and 1954 and the Minor and Juvenile
Hurling titles in 1953. Athlone’s long reign as champions came
to an end in 1961 when beaten by St. Mary’s in the semi-final.
However, Athlone once again took the title in 1965 by defeating Ballymore.
In 1960 Athlone won the Junior Hurling title when captained by Artie
Pyke, they beat Turin and again in 1969 when Ken O’Neill led the
team to victory over Castletown-Geoghegan. In 1973 Athlone and sporting
rivals Walderstown amalgamated to form Southern Gaels. On the football
field Athlone were again County Champions in 1971 (see
pic) and the reached the Leinster Final in the Clubs Championship
where they lost by a point to Portlaoiise. In 1972 Athlone lost in the
county final to the Downs; they beat the Downs in the 1973 (see
pic) final and again lost to the same opposition in the 1974 final.
Before the end of the 70’s Athlone were again County Champions
– in 1977 and 1979. In the 1980’s Athlone were champions in
1982, 1984 and 1988 and were the title holders in 1991 and 1998 (see
pic) . The 20th Century closed with Athlone again in the county
final but failed to retain the title, losing to Tyrrellspass who won
their first title.
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to History of GAA in Athlone Part 1 | go
to History of GAA in Athlone Part 3
