Athlone bridged a 67-year gap as they claimed the AIG Men’s Junior Cup at Millicent on Friday.
The club, which was established back in 1892, had only ever claimed one green pennant but doubled their tally on a memorable evening for Connacht, as a youthful looking Athenry team won the AIG Women’s Junior Cup.
“I’m over the moon, I can’t believe it’s happened,” said Athlone Captain Marc Butler.
“A really good team, it’s come from five years of work at junior level, a couple of young lads on the team this year and hopefully it’s the start of something not just a once off.
“It’s been 67 years since we’ve won a green pennant, this is outrageous. Our club has been asleep.”
Athlone defeated Royal Curragh in the quarter-finals on Thursday and that set up a semi-final tie against Clontarf on Friday morning.
Butler held on for a narrow 2&1 win against Patrick Dunne, with Adrian Kelly and Jed Moylette also securing precious points for the eventual winners. Tramore faced Arklow in the final four, with Michael Reidy, Patrick Doyle and David Spillane leading the way.
In the final Butler won 5&3 in the first match against Reidy, and that laid platform. Shane Kelly was also victorious (2&1) before Moylette secured the crown with a 3&2 success.
Athenry booked their place in the women’s decider thanks to an emphatic victory over Rockmount. Aoife McCormack (8&7) and Ayla Mooney (5&3) led the way, while there were also wins for Kara O’Neill and Annelie Rafferty-Green.
Malone beat Grange in the other semi-final with Julia McAreavey (2&1) on target, along with Susan Butterwick and Rachel Taylor.
In the final Mooney was first up and she won 5&4, Rafferty-Green followed up with a 4&3 victory and Nicole Joyce also grabbed a crucial win.
“A very strong performance, the whole year,” said Athenry Captain Marie Carr.
“In Athenry we have always included our junior girls in our adult teams if possible, and I think that that has paid dividends.
“Apart from the five girls that started two of the others on our panel were also junior girls. The future is bright in Athenry.”
View the final scoring here
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