Fifth straight win as Athy survive tough test in Tullamore
.... claims Niall O'Hanlon's throw-in at the lineout.
Athy arrived in Spollenstown on Saturday afternoon top of Leinster Leinster Division 1A, having taken all 20 points on offer so far this season, with four wins from four and a whopping 162 points scored.
Tullamore started the day two places back in third, five points off Phill DeBarra's men after three wins from their first four games.
The Offaly side put up a brave fight and gave Athy their toughest test of the season, but it was not enough to stop Craig Miller and his side from winning their fifth game on the bounce. It was the first time Athy had failed to secure a four-try bonus point, but the men from The Showgrounds remain top of Division 1A nevertheless.
Athy hit the ground running, dominating possession and territory in the early goings and remaining calm, taking Tullamore through endless phases until a gap finally appeared in the home defence. Josh Miller was the man to dance his way beyond the last two defenders before dotting down for a try and converting himself to make it 7-0 after eight minutes.
Tullamore were under pressure again from the restart, but they turned the ball over well and won a penalty from 30 metres out, with Conor Dunne from the tee getting his side off the mark.
Athy were soon back in the Tullamore 22 and kicked to the corner off an impressive scrum penalty. The hosts wrestled back possession and cleared their lines, but only as far as Aidan Henry, who ran the ball back into the 22 before Athy went wide where Josh Miller played a lovely kick through to the corner as Shane Fata pounced to ground the ball for a 12-3 lead midway through the first half.
The visitors kept up the pressure and won another scrum penalty in the Tullamore 22, with Craig Miller pointing at the posts before brother, Josh, obliged with another successful kick to make it a 12-point game.
There was no respite for Tullamore, who had to work incredibly hard just to prevent Athy from adding to their lead. But the hosts finally worked their way into the Athy 22, winning a penalty and kicking to the corner, only for Kevin Downey to rise highest and steal the ball.
The danger was not gone for the visitors, however, who were reduced to 13 men shortly before half time when prop Aaron Rowan and full back, Aidan Henry were each shown a yellow card within 60 seconds of one another.
Tullamore piled on the pressure after that, going coast-to-coast and back again in search of a try, but the Athy defence put in a ferocious effort to keep the hosts at bay as the Kildare club left the field with a 15-3 lead at the interval.
Athy held on after the restart before being restored to a full complement. No sooner were the visitors back to 15 men than they were on the attack again, with another Josh Miller penalty extending the lead by a further three points - the only score of the third quarter.
The game went up a gear in terms of physicality in the second half, with players on both sides feeling the effects of some merciless collisions.
Tullamore finally crossed for their first and only try in the final ten minutes of the game, with fly half Karl Dunne getting his back-line moving, spreading the play to Scott Bradley who released Cian Lynam in the corner. Conor Dunne added the extras and the gap was back to eight points.
Tullamore spent the closing stages hunting for a score that would have at least salvaged a bonus-point. But their hard hard work was undone thanks to a delightful dink over the top from Miller, releasing Tom Sheedy who unselfishly tossed a precise pass inside for Aidan Henry to go in under the posts with the final play of the game.
Gary Cantwell; Eoin O'Carroll, Scott Bradley, Conor Dunne (1 pen, 1 con), Cian Lynam (1 try); Karl Dunne, Sam Burns; Mark Kennedy, Barry Bracken, Adam John Carthy; Alan Douglas, Ciaran Ennis; John Dunican, Kalvin Mahon, Colm Heffernan.
Rory Lynch, Matthew Murphy, Mark Devine, Ronan Hooper, Eoin O'Reilly.
Aidan Henry (1 try); Shane Fata (1 try), Tom Sheedy, Josh Miller (1 try, 1 pen, 1 con), Daniel Henry; Craig Miller, Eoin Farrell; Aaron Rowan, Matthew Henry, Conan Dunne; Kevin Downey, Joe Cole; Lochlann Kelleher, Jack Henry, Patrick Julian.
Henry, Richard McCarthy Moloney, Niall O'Hanlon, Sean Dunne, Patrick Reeves, Cathal Fennessy.
Ruaidhrí O'Hanlon.
