Athy claim second win of the season
Athy’s Craig Miller gets his pass away. Photo: michaelorourkephotography.ie
Athy came away from Carlow with their second win of the season in the Leinster League Division 1A after a closely fought cross-border local derby. It was a match of fine margins, with not a lot between the two sides that were promoted from Division 1B last season. Athy’s defence stood strong, and as much as Carlow pushed.
The early exchanges were tight with neither side really able to get a foothold on the game. Athy went ahead after eight minutes. Carlow tried to clear a ball just outside their 22 but kicked it straight to the Athy left winger. Darragh Farrell broke up the left hand side and handed off to David Downey who went over under the posts. James Harris converted. Four minutes later, Carlow pulled back three points. Ben Crotty hit a penalty into the left hand corner towards the car park end. The lineout ten metres out was won and mauled towards the line. Carlow won a penalty and Crotty kicked it over. With 17 minutes gone, Carlow had the chance to go within a point through a Ben Crotty penalty from halfway, but it fell just short. Two minutes later, some good attacking work from Carlow saw them push towards the line but they knocked it on, forcing an Athy scrum. They won and tried to clear but Carlow overturned and pushed towards the line but won the ball back and cleared. Just before the half-time break, Athy extended their lead as Harris hit over a penalty from the left hand side to bring it to within seven points.
Athy started the second half off well and within four minutes had a 5m scrum. Carlow intercepted it and cleared. A minute later, Harris found Tom Sheedy down the left who got in behind the defence and touched down halfway towards the posts. Harris converted slightly to the left. Harris added another three points through a penalty with 49 minutes gone. Ten minutes into the second half, a Dan Crotty drop goal attempt was hit just wide on the left. Carlow did get back into the game a minute later, as Conor Treacy found space down the left and touched down halfway to the posts. Ben Crotty hit over the conversion. Seven minutes later, a Carlow lineout in their own half was won. They did some good work but conceded a penalty. With ten minutes to go, Carlow went close but got taken down just before the line in the left hand corner. Three minutes to go,Carlow were on the line but Athy overturned and cleared. With three minutes to go, a Carlow scrum just inside the 22 led to a penalty for Carlow. Ben Crotty hit his effort wide on the left despite being just in front of the posts. At the death, he made up for it with a penalty from distance on the left.
Larry McGrath, Scott Neale, Tadgh Ronan, Wes Shirley, John Lyons, Cormac MacElligott, Joel Brown, John Murphy, Alan Owens, Dan Crotty, Ben Crotty, Sean Quinlan, Ian Atkinson, Jonathan Crossley, Will Casey. Subs: Evan Gordon, Ross Byrne, Conor Treacy, Rhys Edghill, David McDermott.
Teodor Ciobanu, Niall O’Halloran, Aaron Rowan, Kevin Downey, Conor McDonnell, James Sheedy, John Sheedy, Tadgh Foley, Craig Miller, James Harris, Darragh Farrell, David Downey, Tom Sheedy, Cathal Fennessy, Ryan Hogg. Subs: Karol Donohoe, Eoin Farrell, Shane Horgan, Ross Hendy, Aaron O’Donohoe.
