No doubt about it they were the better side and if the scoreline had been a reflection of the difference in quality between the sides there would have been more than three points between them at the end.
Athy’s first step in Leinster was a nervous one but they overcame their anxieties during a powerful second half that will steel them for the next round. A semi-final place is well within their grasp and with Portlaoise and St Brigid’s on the other side of the draw, they have a great chance of making a final. That is talk for another day but there’s no doubt that Sunday’s win was a massive result for them.
The first half is more important in terms of how the side improve for the visit of Old Leighlin next Sunday but if there were any doubts about their right to be regarded as future Leinster champions, they were firmly put to bed in the second half.
They outscored Edenderry by 1-6 to 0-3 and only for one brief, bright spell for Edenderry, Athy were in total control. Had Athy adapted better in the first half, they would not have had to fight so hard to secure this win.
Mick Foley’s absence was telling at the start when Athy seemed a little on edge, especially in their sporadic attempts at goal. Foley might have been the calming influence that they needed at the time and would have rectified a lot of the problems that weren’t addressed until half-time. That said, playing into the breeze was going to be extremely difficult against a team that were more than happy to drop as many men as possible inside their own half.
Edenderry’s lack of ambition made for a dull enough game in the first half but it was still a fascintating contest. Watching how Athy coped against a well-organised and well-disciplined defence made for an instructive afternoon.
Considering Edenderry scored three points against the wind, Athy will be disappointed that they only managed two. Of the wides that they had before half-time, at least two should have been scored while a number of those wides were the result of shots that should never have been attempted.
However that’s the problem when you come up against a mass defence. Kicking a wide is better than turning over possession and leaving yourself open at the back. And when you have a midfield pairing as strong as Kevin Feely and Paddy Dunne, the rest of the team probably aren’t too worried about the kickouts.
Maybe that gave Athy a false sense of security in the first 15 minutes. They owned possession and it probably felt like it was just a matter of time before the scores would come. Their attack is never short of confidence but pot-shots at goal weren’t the percentage plays.
It was an Athy procession until Edenderry scored their goal and even then they relied on a lapse in the Athy defence to get the opportunity. Such errors at this level will be severely punished and while the Athy full-back line had a very good afternoon, the lack of support-play in the Edenderry attack made life a lot easier for them.
Having decided to play with just two forwards inside the 45, it was strange that Edenderry didn’t have runners bursting through the middle when they played the ball into Stuart Cullen and Mark Young. Most of the time, both men had to go it alone a long way from goal.
Even though they led by three, Edenderry were up against it. Athy couldn’t keep missing and the wind was going to be worth a score or two.
As it turned out, the wind was worth at least three scores after half-time because Kevin Feely and Paddy Dunne all managed to find the target from distance. It also made free-taking a lot easier for Cian Reynolds. Edenderry’s back-chat cost them dearly for the first free that he converted while they were let off the hook when Athy missed a 13-metre free in the first half that was also moved closer to goal.
Goal chances were few and far between and Edenderry didn’t get a sniff in the second half. Apart from Danny O’Keefe’s opportunity, Athy only had one other genuine goal chance. Had that been scored, when James Eaton was put through, Athy might not have needed O’Keefe’s spectacular intervention.
Any day you win depsite kicking 16 wides is a relief but Athy will learn from this. Having this game under their belts will be a big advantage in the next round and with another home fixture, Athy are heading for December football.