Athlone Town 0 - Sunderland AFC 6

We make the trip to Athlone. Craig, Steve and Ellie take the trip-boat up the river to Lough Ree while I decide to have a look around the shops (there's a Marks & Spencers in Athlone !! but all I buy is food...)
Also manage a quick visit to the castle - here's Ellie sitting on the wall


Quick pint in Seans Bar (oldest pub in Ireland) and a pizza tea then it's off to the match. The rain holds off for most of the game. Sunderland put out all their new signings... Malbranque, Chimbonda and Diouf (Diooooooooooooouf) and it's generally a cracking evening.

Get back into town for post-match analysis and a pint, but we're not allowed in the pubs due to the "no kids after 9pm" rule.
Aye - fair enough, so we sit on the riverbank and Steve and Craig buy drinks in the bar and the chap on the gate lets them bring them out to us on condition we bring the glasses back and don't cause any trouble.

We're met by my mate Sandra from the Sunderland message board and her other half and her eldest lad (who's also not allowed in as he's got no ID on him) so sod them - we have our own little party !!!