Athy’s poor start continues as Boyne impress yet again
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 last week, 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 flanker Karl Keogh is an unlikely kicker, but the number seven made no mistake first time off the tee, landing a straightforward conversion 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. Keogh could not convert from out on the sideline and it remained 15-0.
The hosts needed the next score before the game got away from them and went back to basics, kicking for territory and using their lineout as a platform to attack.
It finally paid dividends justafter the half-hour mark following some lovely hands out wide 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 at home in the Showgrounds this coming Saturday where they will host Tullamore, with the Offaly side in their first year back down from Senior.
