County champions dethroned as Maynooth record famous win
Paddy Mahoney celebrates after scoring a late two-point free to send this evening's SFC quarter-final into extra-time Photo: Sean Brilly
Maynooth are back in the Joe Mallon Motors Senior Football Championship semi-finals for the first time since 2021 after producing a stunning upset to dethrone county champions Athy.
Athy entered the contest having reached 14 of the previous 16 semi-finals, missing out only in 2016 and 2021, but they bow out of this year's championship having never quite reached the standards that carried them deep into last season's campaign.
A brilliant piece of fielding from the excellent Ciaran Flanagan paved the way for Sean Hever's 29th-minute goal, helping Maynooth take a 1-4 to 0-5 lead into the break.
However, Maynooth failed to score for more than 30 minutes after the restart as Athy began to dominate possession. Despite enjoying most of the ball, Athy struggled to translate their control into scores, managing just four second-half points. Cian Keaveny accounted for two of those, while David Hyland and substitute Kevin Feely, introduced after 38 minutes, also raised white flags.
As the clock ticked down, it appeared the momentum was firmly with Athy. Maynooth manager Ross Glavin cut an animated figure on the sideline as he attempted to drive his side on, and the challenge facing his team grew when Paddy Mahoney missed a two-point free in the final minute of normal time.
The forward was handed an immediate opportunity for redemption deep into stoppage time. Goalkeeper Mark Donnellan initially emerged from his goal with the intention of taking the kick, but instructions from the sideline saw Mahoney stand over the ball once more. This time he made no mistake, and he superbly held his nerve to split the posts with Maynooth's first score of the second half to force extra time at 1-6 to 0-9.
That score appeared to breathe new life into Maynooth and they nearly struck for a goal within 90 seconds of extra time when Kevin Donovan rattled the foot of the post.
Liam McDonald then fired over two points in quick succession before Donovan was denied again by an excellent save from James Roycroft. However, a foul had occurred earlier in the move and play was brought back, allowing Mahoney to convert the resulting free and send Maynooth into the interval of extra time with a three-point advantage.
Mahoney added another free after the turnaround to leave four points between the sides and put Maynooth firmly in control.
Athy refused to surrender and a late two-pointer from Niall Kelly, as the game ticked into two minutes of injury time, ensured a tense finish for the travelling support.
Nevertheless, Maynooth held their nerve in the closing stages to complete a famous victory and book their place in the county semi-finals.
Mark Donnellan 0-1f; Cathal Quinn, Niall O’Sullivan, Sean Mahon, Aaron Mahoney, Callum McCabe, Conor O’Grady; Ciaran Flanagan, Matthew Diamond; Paul O’Dea, Sean Hever 1-0, Cathal McCabe, Paddy Mahoney 0-6 (2tpfs, 2fs), Liam McDonald 0-2, Paddy Ryan 0-1. Subs: Alex Tilly for A Mahoney, h/t; Paul Maguire for O’Dea, 42; Kevin Donovan for Ryan, 46; Fionn Ó Giolláin for O’Grady, 54; Niall Cullen for O’Sullivan, h/t in e/t; Sean Higgins for McDonald, 76; Chris Canning for Cathal McCabe, 79.
James Roycroft; Darren Lawler, Padraic Spillane, Michael Spillane, Brian Maher, Cathal McCarron 0-2 (1tp), James McGrath; Paudi Behan, David Hyland 0-1; Calum Keaveny 0-1, Ronan Kelly 0-1, Conor Doyle, Cian Keaveny 0-2, Barry Kelly, Niall Kelly 0-2 (1tp). Subs: Conor Kelly for Maher, 46; Kevin Feely 0-2 (1f) for B Kelly, 38; Mark Hyland for Lawler, 55; Barry Kelly for R Kelly, start of e/t; Jack Dooley for Behan, 68; Ronan Kelly for Calum Keavney, h/t in e/t; Brian Maher for McGrath, 76.
Henry Barrett.
