International Under 15 games at Mullingar Athletic AFC

Mullingar Athletic will host the very first international football game in Mullingar this Wednesday, February 11 when the Republic of Ireland face Latvia after the day"s opening fixture of Belgium and Lithuania.The selection of Mullingar Athletic as one of three venues for this event - the others being Tullamore and Athlone Town Stadium - is a huge honour for the club and plans are well underway to make the event a memorable occasion for the club and Mullingar.We ask all those wishing to attend to note the following - there is free admission and bus transfer from town!Entry to all the 2009 Under 15 International Tournament is free of charge (see fixtures below) for all wishing to attend and we hope to see all our members and supporters on the day. A free bus service will operate on the day to transport people to and from the games as parking at the club grounds will be restricted due to the large numbers expected to attend from around the greater midlands area and indeed further afield. The bus service will allow people to park in predesignated areas thus avoiding parking difficulties at the club grounds.The schedule and pick up points will begin as follows with continual service all afternoon every half hour and evening to accommodate both games: Departing Mullingar Park Hotel 2.15pm; Departing St. Paul" Church: 2.20pm; Departing Mullingar Community College 2.25pm; Departing Ballinderry Hospital 2.30pmFor any further details regarding the bus service please contact Eddie Tynan at 086-2326354.Midlands International Tournament Fixtures for Mullingar Athletic AFCBelgium v. Lithuania 3pm, Republic of Ireland v. Latvia, 5pmVolunteers/Help neededAnyone wishing to assist with stewarding/general duties on the day please contact Liam McGovern at 087-6471502 - any offers of help will be greatly appreciated.CateringOn the day the club will be providing refreshments therefore we would welcome offers of sandwiches, buns, cakes etc - again all contributions will be greatly welcomed. Those wishing to donate any of the listed items may drop these into the club house which will be opened from 9am on the day. Donations can be dropped in at any time from 9am to 6pm.Under 11s continuewinning ways!Abbeyleix 1Mullingar Athletic 5N. Gavin, R. Dempsey (2),A. Kilmartin, R. O"TooleDespite a lapse of three weeks since their last game, no cobwebs were in evidence in Abbeyleix. Athletic had the best possible start when, after two minutes, Niall Gavin pounced on a loose ball just outside the box and fired an unstoppable twenty yard shot to the roof of the net. The home side regained their composure quickly, and capitalised on complacency in the Mullingar defence to equalise after 13 minutes.Thereafter, the visitors had the lion"s share of possession. Ryan Dempsey went through on goals twice, only to find the home "keeper in superb form. However his persistence paid off when his next effort rolled in under the Abbeyleix goalie. Tom Gavin and Jake O"Meara both had shots blocked as Athletic sought to turn supremacy into goals.Early in the second period, when the home "keeper raced out of his box, he was disposessed by Andrew Kilmartin, who crossed for Ryan Dempsey to tap in. The former was unfortunate to see his deflection of a Ronan O"Toole rocket go wide, but made amends soon afterwards, poking in after a goalmouth scramble.Building on a very sturdy defensive base of Luke Tormey, Liam Bowes, Oisin Quinn and James Monaghan, Mullingar were rampant for the last fifteen minutes. Midfield maestro, Shane O"Keeffe, provider of several defence splitting passes, fired wide from the edge of the box. Left winger, Ronan O"Toole crossed for Andrew Kilmartin to head just wide, Ryan Dempsey hit the post and his cross from the rebound was met by Ronan O"Toole whose header also hit the post. The latter finished off the scoring late in the game when he rounded the "keeper and tapped in.Along with the score, which could have been higher, a notable aspect of the performance was the determination of the defence, spurred on by ever improving goalie, Colin McGowan, to minimise scoring opportunities for the opposition, even when the game was well won.Squad: Colin McGowan, Glen Gaffney, Oisin Quinn, Luke Tormey, Liam Bowes, Tom Gavin, Niall Gavin, Shane O"Keeffe, Tye Adamson, Ronan O"Toole, Ryan Dempsey, Jake O"Meara, James Monaghan, Andrew Kilmartin.Reminder to ParentsPlease note that coaching for the under 10 development squads will not take place this weekend, Saturday, February 14.FixturesCombinedCountiesLeagueSaturday, February 14Div 1 Sat.: Mullingar Athletic v. Dynamo Rooskey 2pm.Sunday February 15John Farrell Cup Round 3: Gentex v. Mullingar Athletic 11am.NDSLSunday, February 15Under 13: St. Ita"s v. Mullingar Athletic 11.15amAthlone & DistrictSchoolboy/GirlLeague(Sponsored byAthlone Town Council)Saturday, February 14Under 10 Division North: Mullingar Ath Lions v. St. Francis Eagles 11am.Under 10 Division South: Mullingar Ath Wolves v. AC Celtic 12.15am.Under 10 Division East: St. Comans v. Mullingar Ath Tigers 11am.Under 14 Athlone Town Council League: Temple Villa A v. Mullingar Athletic 1am.Midlands LeagueSaturday, February 14Under 11: Mullingar Athletic v. Emo Celtic 11.45amUnder 13: Mullingar Athletic A v. Portlaoise 1pm.Under 14: Mullingar Athletic v. Gallen 12.15pm.Under 15: Emo Celtic v. Mullingar Athletic 11.45am.Under 14 Girls: Edenderry v. Mullingar Athletic 11am.Under 12 Girls: Mullingar Athletic v. Tullamore 11am.