Comeback kings Athy through to Towns Cup semi-finals as title defence continues
The pageantry of the Towns Cup in full effect at The Showgrounds, with captain Craig Miller leading Athy onto the field. Photos: James Lawlor.
Athy are through to the Bank of Ireland Leinster Towns Cup semi-finals after a remarkable comeback victory over Wexford Wanderers on Sunday afternoon at The Showgrounds.
Two weeks had passed since Athy solidified their place in Division 1A of the Leinster League with a 35-point win away to Wexford in the final league game of the season, but this was a very different side that arrived at The Showgrounds as Wanderers clearly prioritised the cup.
The wind was a big factor in the first half, with Wexford taking a 14-point lead into half time. Athy rallied after the break and drew level heading into the final ten minutes, where two kicks from Josh Miller proved the winning of the quarter-final.
Defending champions Athy lifted the famous old trophy for the sixth time last season, almost nine decades after their first win in 1938. Wexford have reached five finals but brought the trophy home only once in their history – all the way back in 1930 - with their last trip to the final coming as far back as 60 years ago.
The home side made a positive start to the game and were on the board inside three minutes with a 40-metre penalty from Josh Miller.
But Wexford hit back right from the restart, running hard into the Athy 22 before Shea Boggan released his wing partner Sean O'Corcora, who crossed for a try. Donal Buckley added the extras to make it 7-3.
The Athy response was thunderous, crashing through a number of phases before a five-metre scrum allowed them to go wide, with Culann Carbery crossing for an excellent try.
Wexford again struck back almost immediately, pinning Athy back into their 22. Scrum half Eoin Farrell had his clearing box-kick blocked down by big lock, Jakub Tarnawski, who gathered the ball himself and touched down for his side's second try.
Buckley this time missed his conversion, and then missed a tricky penalty moments later, but the Wexford fly half landed a pair of three-pointers midway through the half to leave the visitors ten points up.
Athy were dominating the scrum and used the set piece to force their way to the Wexford try-line, only to be turned over at the crucial moment.
The visitors found touch on halfway before a superb 50-22 gave them a lineout deep inside Athy territory, and just three phases later they were in for a third try thanks to powerful prop Kaylem Codd. Buckley slotted the conversion to make it 25-8 after half an hour.
The home side needed a score before the break and won a penalty late in the half, right in front of the Wexford posts. They forced their way over the line, only to be held up for a second time by another big defensive effort from the visitors.
Josh Miller did manage to cut the gap with a penalty in stoppage time to leave 14 points between the sides at the interval as Athy went in at the break trailing 25-11.
The hosts started well after the restart and kicked to the corner from an early penalty; they quickly went wide where speedy winger Cathal Fennessy was on hand to dart over for a try. Miller's conversion made it a one-score game.
Wexford responded well, controlling territory and possession while showcasing some awesome handling before eventually creating space out wide for big centre Sean Kelly-Komolafe to crash over in the corner.
Athy hit back straight from the restart, going down the line before setting an impressive maul, with captain Craig Miller popping the ball off to Tom Sheedy, who powered over for a try. Josh Miller added the extras to make it a five-point game heading into the final quarter.
A series of massive collisions coupled with some brilliant kicking from the Miller brothers brought Athy back into the Wexford 22. The hosts went through the phases, going coast to coast, before Carbery slipped the ball outside to Daniel Henry for a try in the corner, bringing the sides level with ten minutes left on the clock.
It was all Athy in the closing stages, and when Wexford's defense proved impregnable the hosts decided to set up a drop goal, with Josh Miller dropping into the pocket before kicking his side into a three-point lead with just five minutes remaining.
Wexford had one last shot to fire and went to the corner off a penalty with the clock in the red, turning down a shot at the posts that would have levelled matters to instead go in search of the win.
But Athy turned the ball over with some defensive heroics and drove up the field. They won a penalty and Josh Miller sensibly called for the tee, eating up every last second before slotting his kick to seal the victory.
Culann Carbery (1 try); Cathal Fennessy (1 try), Tom Sheedy (1 try), Josh Miller (1 drop goal, 3 pens, 2 cons), Ciaran Fennessy; Craig Miller, Eoun Farrell; Aaron Rowan, Matthew Henry, Conan Dunne; Kevin Downey, Conor McDonnell; Lochlann Kelleher, Jack Henry, Tom Brady.
Niall O'Hanlon, Karol Donohoe, John Sheedy, Sean Dunne, James Sheedy, Daniel Henry (1 try), Aidan Henry.
Richard Waters; Shea Boggan, Shane McGuinness, Sean Kelly-Komolafe (1 try), Sean O'Corcora (1 try); Donal Buckley (2 pens, 2 cons), Ruairi Fenlon; Jack O'Leary, Louis Richard, Kaylem Codd (1 try); Louis Gainfort, Jakub Tarnawski (1 try); Vincent Carroll, Ben McGuinness, Connor Fenlon.
Brian Donohoe, Eoin Walsh, Bobby Clancy, Alan Hawkins, Conor Kelly, Michael Harney, Michael Cleary.
Mark Hynes.
