2010 will go down as a successful year for Athlone IT who reached the last-four of the Sigerson Cup for the first time in eight years.

While an historic Sigerson Cup final appearance proved a bridged too far for Athlone IT, the Westmeath students can still look back on this year's campaign with much satisfaction.
Reaching the semi-finals of the prestigious third level football competition - which Athlone IT had only accomplished twice before - was a fine achievement for manager Ed Burns and his players. After beating Carlow and losing to Louth in the O'Byrne Cup, Athlone IT accounted for UL and IT Sligo before succumbing to a star-studded UCC in the semi-final at Maynooth.
As ever, Westmeath was well represented on the Athlone IT team with 2008 All-Star goalkeeper Gary Connaughton being joined by James Reynolds (Maryland), Paul Bannon (Athlone), Aidan Burke (Tang) and Fintan O'Reilly (Milltownpass). Other key players included the Longford trio of Diarmuid Masterson, Kevin Smith and Ger Dennigan, Matthew Mitchell, David Egan and John Reynolds from Offaly and Cavan sharpshooter Raymond Galligan.
Using the O'Byrne Cup to fine-tune their preparations for the Sigerson Cup, AIT recorded an excellent 0-12 to 0-8 victory over Luke Dempsey's Carlow in the first round before losing to holders Louth by 1-8 to 0-18 in the quarter-final at Drogheda. Athlone received a bye into the second round of the Sigerson where Ray Galligan's 41st minute goal paved the way for a 1-15 to 1-8 win over UL in Limerick. With Galligan and Mayo's Paul Doherty to the fore, the visitors held a slender 0-7 to 0-6 lead at the break and had extended their advantage to six by the end of the third quarter thanks to Galligan's goal and points from Galligan and John Reynolds.
UL were then thrown a lifeline when Enda Varley beat Gary Connaughton from the penalty spot, but they couldn't get any closer than three points as the Westmeath side pulled clear for a comfortable victory.
In the quarter-final at Ballyforan, Athlone edged out IT Sligo by 1-9 to 1-8 to book their place at the Sigerson Cup weekend. Raymond Galligan was once again in fine scoring form, hitting 0-7 for the winners who had to wait until the 20th minute for their opening score.
A brace of Galligan points and a further score from Ger Dennigan tied the game at 0-3 apiece at the break. IT Sligo nosed in front thanks to a David Givney point 40 seconds after the restart, but Athlone responded with a 37th minute goal from John Reynolds.
This pushed them into a 1-4 to 0-5 lead, and although IT Sligo pulled a point back, a trio of Athlone points pushed them four-points clear with 10 minutes remaining. IT Sligo battled hard, but a 61st minute point from Galligan gave his side a 1-9 to 0-8 lead late on.
Sligo weren't finished and a goal a minute later from Givney cut the gap to the minimum. But time ran out as referee Derek Fahy signalled full-time from the resulting kick-out, much to the jubilation of the Athlone side.
Athlone's Sigerson Cup dreams were dashed by UCC at the semi-final stage with the Cork students running out comfortable 1-15 to 0-7 winners.
The game was decided in the lead-up to half-time when after UCC goalkeeper Ken O'Halloran had twice produced magnificent saves to deny David Egan and Paul Doherty, the Cork side put together a brilliant six-man move which culminated in corner back Shane Enright scoring the only goal.
Trailing by 0-4 to 1-7 at the interval, Athlone had it all to do in the second half but with key forwards Ray Galligan and John Reynolds getting no change out of their direct opponents, UCC never looked in any danger.
Frank Burke did narrow the gap to five points immediately after the restart, but points in reply from Seamus Hayes and Barry O'Driscoll had stretched UCC's lead to 1-10 to 0-6 before the midlanders' hopes were well and truly ended when Doherty was shown a red card following an altercation with O'Driscoll.

Athlone IT lined out as follows against UCC: G Connaughton (Westmeath); S Higgins (Roscommon), D Masterson (Longford), James Reynolds (Westmeath); M Mitchell (Offaly), K Smyth (Longford), D Reilly (Galway); G Dennigan (Longford), B Connors (Offaly); P Doherty (Mayo), D Egan (Offaly), C Blake (Galway); F Burke (Galway), John Reynolds (Offaly), R Galligan (Cavan).
Subs: N Judge (Sligo), P Bannon (Westmeath), F O'Reilly (Westmeath) and D Cash (Kildare). Tweet

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