Athy's poor start continues after battle of the Boyne
Captain Craig Miller kicks for Athy Photo: Aisling Hyland
Athy's Leinster League Division 1A campaign hit a speed bump for the second consecutive weekend when they suffered an unexpected defeat on Saturday afternoon at home to Drogheda side, Boyne.
The 2025 Towns Cup champions were beaten away to Carlow side, Tullow, in the opening game of the league last week and are now two defeats from two after another impressive win for Boyne.
Having won promotion from Division 1B last season, the new boys ran in six tries in their first game to come out on the right side of a high scoring upset at home to Wicklow, and racked up another six tries on their way to this win over Athy.
The visitors were on top early on, aided by some unforced errors from Athy. The hosts could only repel Boyne for so long and the Drogheda side crossed for their first try in the 10th minute when full back Eoghan Duffy found a whole a raced in under the posts. Boyne openside Karl Keogh is an unlikely kicker, but he made no mistake first time off the tee to make it 7-0.
Athy found themselves on the wrong side of the whistle and were punished with a long-range penalty from Keogh midway through the half.
Boyne's handling was sublime, and they went in for try number two moments later when scrum half Nick Smith released flanker Colm Joyce-Ahearne who touched down in the corner.
The hosts needed the next score and went back to basics, kicking for territory and using their lineout as a platform to attack. It finally paid dividends after half an hour when winger Cathal Fennessy skipped over in the corner for a badly needed Athy try. Full back Aidan Henry was unable to add the extras.
Athy then lost Lochlann Kelleher to the sin bin for ten minutes for a high tackle. Boyne quickly made the man advantage count as Robert Vallejo scored under the posts with Keogh adding the conversion to leave Boyne 22-5 ahead at half time.
Athy had a mountain to climb in the second half, but handling errors continued to plague their performance, allowing Boyne to stay in control. Some wayward kicking from the hosts then allowed Boyne in for their fourth try as prop Hugh Carolan made sure of the bonus point with half an hour still to play.
The visitors lost Rian Kindlon to the sin bin and Athy made hey with captain Craig Miller crossing under the posts. Henry did make his kick this time to cut the gap to 15 points.
Boyne then lost another man to the sin bin as lock Nile Banks joined Kindlon on the naughty step.
Athy eventually exploited the space as flanked Jack Henry found a gap and raced in for a third try. Aidan Henry added the extras just as Kildonan returned.
But the Boyne winger made his presence felt almost immediately when he crossed for his side's fifth try with ten minutes left on the clock.
No sooner were Boyne restored to a full complement than Athy lost a man to the bin when Tom Sheedy was yellow carded for a tackle in the air.
Boyne put the cherry on top with a sixth try just before the end when Keogh got over in the corner.
Athy are back in the Showgrounds this coming Saturday when they will host Tullamore, with the Offaly side in their first year back down from Senior.
SCORERS:
Athy: Cathal Fennessy, Craig Miller (one try each), Aidan Henry (two cons)
Boyne: Eoghan Duffy, Colm Joyce-Ahearne, Robert Vallejo, Hugh Carolan, Rian Kindlon (one try each), Karl Keogh (one try, three cons, one pen).
ATHY: Aidan Henry; Daniel Henry,Tom Sheedy, Josh Miller, Cathal Fennessy; Craig Miller, Culann Carbery; Karol Donohoe, Matthew Henry, Conan Dunne; Kevin Downey, Lochlann Kelleher; John Sheedy, Jack Henry, Tadgh Foley.
Replacements: Richard Moloney, Ruari Scully, Kyle Stacey, Eoin Farrell, James Harris.
BOYNE: Eoghan Duffy; Rian Kindlon, Robert Vallejo, Graeme McQuillan, Daniel O'Neill; Michael Briscoe, Nick Smith; Patrick Prendergast, Theo Sheridan, Hugh Carolan; Nile Banks, Oisin Howell; Colm Joyce-Ahearne, Karl Keogh, Dylan Lynch.
Replacements: Evan Mcginm, Cody O'Neill, Elliot Lenehan, Rory Hennessy, Shaun Rooney.
Referee: Ciaran O'Flynn.
