Athy captain Hyland says "plenty to work on going forward"

Athy's inspirational captain, David Hyland outlined the strategy which saw his side opt to face the breeze in the first half in Aughrim and then use the wind to see out the game in the second half. 

This allowed the Kildare champions to take the game to Baltinglass from the start and thereby them an opportunity to get a foothold in the game in what used to be a fortress for Wicklow teams at club and county level.

“We actually won the toss and opted to go against the breeze,” Hyland told the Kildare Nationalist. 

“In these games, and if you looked at last night’s game (Portarlington [Laois] v Old Leighlin [Carlow]), they can be cagey affairs in the first ten minutes. 

"We didn’t want to lose that in the second half and when we came out in that second half, we were able to build on it with the breeze. It was kind of strategical to go that way but we started very well."

Outlining preparation for Sunday’s game, Hyland said, “We got back the Wednesday after the County Final and we really said we wanted to set out our stall. 

"We wanted to stay together as a group as long as possible and that would stand us in good stead for next year. We said if we can get to Aughrim and win by a point what can happen after that can happen.” 

Athy’s three goals were important and came at crucial times in the game according the Athy captain. “They were very important," he said. 

"We have been scoring crucial goals all year and we probably left a few behind us there as well so that gives us plenty to work on going forward.” 

The strength of any successful team is not just in the fifteen players who start the game but very much depends on the strength of those coming off the bench to finish the game with Hyland praising some of the younger players on the County Champions panel. 

“You look at Ronan Kelly there - we’re out of the Kildare Championship now so he’ll be a nightmare to mark with a bit more space in Leinster,” the captain contended. 

“Colm Moran is there and then Niall Kelly is linking it all together up there. Then you have Cian Keaveney and Ben Purcell chomping at the bit, they got five points between them in the last ten minutes, I think. No place is safe,” Hyland laughed.