Athy precariously positioned as relegation looms
Lochlann Kelliher carries the ball for Athy with captain Craig Miller in the background. Photo: Martin Rowe.
Athy are now in a distinctly precarious position having coughed up a four-point lead in Division 1A of the Leinster League to lose at home to Suttonians on Sunday.
The Dublin club began the day in third, still holding on to their league-winning aspirations, while Athy came into the weekend third-from-bottom, just two points above Tullow in the relegation zone.
Defeat here for the Kildare side, coupled with Tullow’s victory over Wexford at Black Gates, means Athy are now three points from safety having played a game more than their Carlow rivals.
Suttonians were seven-point winners when these two teams met earlier in the league, but it was Athy who won by a whopping 31 points when they faced Suttonians in the All-Ireland Junior Cup quarter-finals. But despite Athy getting their noses in front, the Dublin side once again showed their superiority when it comes to the week-to-week matches in the league.
Two tries had the visitors were 10-0 up at half time, though neither was converted and that left the door ajar for Athy to mount a comeback.
Big outside centre Tom Sheedy ran in a try shortly after the restart, with his centre partner Josh Miller adding the extras.
Athy then took the lead when pacey winger Cathal Fennessy raced over for a try, with another conversions from Miller putting the hosts four points in front.
Suttonians cut the gap to one with a late penalty before regaining the lead with a try 78th minute. Athy could not find their way back into the game, and another converted try from Suttonians at the death denied Athy even a losing bonus point.
The Kildare side have just one game left in which to stave off relegation, when they visit Wexford Wanderers in three week’s time. One week before that, however, they will begin the defence of their Towns Cup when they welcome Navan to The Showgrounds.
Culann Carbery; Cathal Fennessy (1 try), Tom Sheedy (1 try), Josh Miller (2 cons), Aidan Henry; Craig Miller, Eoin Farrell; Aaron Rowan, Niall O’Hanlon, Conan Dunne; Connor McDonnell, Lochlann Kelleher; John Sheedy, Jack Henry, James Sheedy.
Karol Donohoe, Matthew Henry, Sean Donohoe, Sean Dunne, Daniel Henry.
Blaise Barnes; Hugh Duignan, Louis Gallagher, Joe Kelly, James Buckeridge; Sean Cribbin, Josh Oakley; Jack Walters, Simon Feeney, Frank Keegan; Cian Buckley, Dean Moore; James McConnon, Andrew Ussher, Matthew Linehan.
Conor Kelly, Ponamu Palazzetti, James Reilly, Graeme O’Reilly, Charlie Lappin.
Sean Kearns.
