Kelly is king as Athy reach first county final in half a decade
David Hyland celebrates Athy's victory at full time. All Photos: James Lawlor
A voracious Athy are back in a county final for the first time since 2020’s “Covid” win over Moorefield after securing a famous win over Sarsfields in Cedral St Conleth’s Park on Sunday.
There may be very few Presidential Election votes coming Jim Gavin’s way from Roseberry, with Athy’s winner coming from a three-back indiscretion from the Newbridge side; Niall Kelly popping over the winner from the resultant close range free in injury time.
There was still time for Sarsfields to rescue it when Harry Redmond found himself free in front of the posts after, ironically, a Niall Kelly pass went astray in his own half. With a bit more experience Redmond might have taken his point to bring it to extra-time, but he went low for goal and Athy full-back Pádraig Spillane smothered the shot to secure the victory.
Athy had first use of the breeze in the opening half and despite not scoring a “single” they went in 2-6 to 0-6 ahead having landed two goals from Niall Kelly and three two-pointers.
But Sarsfields hit back in the second half, driven on by Shea Ryan, Ryan Kearney and Callum Bolton and a superbly finished goal from Cian Costigan on 40 minutes brought them back into it.
With Colm Moran clipping over two superb points, though Athy still seemed on course to win at 2-11 to 1-8 after 48 minutes but Sarsfields roused themselves and a neatly finished goal from Bolton from Kearney’s cross put them within a point with four minutes remaining.
The Newbridge men then dominated the kickout for the next few minutes and Bolton, who had a fine second half, kicked a leveller.
The drama wasn’t over though, with Athy teenager Ronan Kelly clipping over a marvellous score a minute into injury time only for Sarsfields to come straight back at them with Ben Loakman, who had come on as a second half substitute, angling over another equaliser.
Unfortunately, Sarsfields lost concentration at the crucial time and gifted Niall Kelly the winner from that 20-metre free before Redmond spurned that late chance to equalise.
Athy’s early aggression brought them a quick reward when Sarsfields youngster Kearney was overpowered at midfield and teenager Moran sent Kelly haring towards goal with one thing on his mind. He still had plenty of work do but steadied himself, shimmied to his left and finished low for the game’s opening score.
Both sides were missing important players with Athy minus James McGrath and goalkeeper James Roycroft while Sarsfields couldn’t start Loakman. Ben McCormack replaced him but after opening his team’s account the Kildare forward had to depart injured after only ten minutes and they went on to lose Tadhg Hoey in the second half.
The breeze, though weaker than it had been earlier in the weekend, favoured Athy and though they were restricted generally to shots from distance, they landed two-pointers from Kevin Feely (7 mins), David Hyland (17) and Mark Hyland, McGrath’s deputy (26), as they kept their noses in front of a Sarsfields team for whom Barry Coffey (two frees), David Higgins, Daragh Ryan and Kearney found the target.
But two minutes into injury time a foul by Bolton on Barry Kelly presented Niall Kelly with a two-point attempt which fortuitously, as it turned out, dropped short and under intense pressure from Moran, it slipped through Marc Courtney Byrne’s hands. That gave Athy a six-point half-time advantage (2-6 to 0-6).
Kelly might have had a third goal to settle the game early in the second half but dragged his effort just left of the posts and the game developed into a thriller with Athy eventually sealing their place in the final against Naas.
Niall Kelly 2-2 (1-1f), Kevin Feely 0-4 (1tp), David Hyland (tp), Mark Hyland (tp) and Colm Moran 0-2 each, Brian Maher and Ronan Kelly 0-1 each.
Callum Bolton 1-2; Barry Coffey 0-3 (3f), Cian Costigan 1-0, Shea Ryan 0-2, Daragh Ryan, Ryan Kearney, David Higgins, Karl Hartley, Ben McCormack and Ben Loakman 0-1 each.
Shane Jackman; Sean Moore, Padraig Spillane, Darren Lawler; Brian Maher, Cathal McCarron, Michael Spillane; Kevin Feely, David Hyland; Mark Hyland, Barry Kelly, Conor Doyle; Colm Moran, Ben Purcell, Niall Kelly.
Ronan Kelly for Moore (HT), Sean Bride for M Hyland (44), Cian Keaveny for Purcell (54).
Marc Courtney Byrne; Cian Byrne, Tom Aspell, Alan Scully; Ethan Mountaine, Daragh Ryan, David Higgins; Tadhg Hoey, Shea Ryan; Cian Costigan, Ryan Kearney, Callum Bolton; Barry Coffey, Karl Hartley, Ben McCormack .
Conor O’Donovan for McCormack (10), Ben Loakman 0-1 for Byrne (36), Matty Byrne for Hoey (46), Harry Redmond for O’Donovan (54), Daragh Conlon for Mountaine (60).
Paddy McDermott.
