Athy complete double over Naas
The Athy celebrate after their win over Naas Photo: Sean Brilly
Athy are the Osprey Hotel and Spa Reserve A football champions after they overcame Naas on a wet but mild Manguard Park on Tuesday evening. In what was a rematch of the County Senior final only four weeks ago, the result still favoured the men from Athy as they had seven points to spare in a comfortable win. Seven points without reply after the break was the platform for success as Athy picked up their second senior title in less than a month.
Athy were off the mark through Cathal Kennedy inside a minute but Naas veteran Eamonn Callaghan levelled from a free. The hard working Kieran Farrell restored the lead before midfielder Conor Kelly doubled it with five minutes gone. Ailin McDermott and Farrell swapped points but just as Athy were taking control Eammon Callaghan struck for Naas's and the games only goal. A good pass from John Joyce played him in and he made no mistake.
Darroch Mulhall then landed a trademark two pointer but the sides would share four points over the closing six minutes to leave Athy 0-8 to 1-4 ahead at the break.
McDermott and Alex Lenehan matched points by Conor Kelly and a third Kieran Farrell.
Athy won the game in that third quarter hitting seven scores to open up an eight point buffer. Full back Niall McEvoy started the run and a brilliant two pointer from Kieran Farrell, his fifth, extended the lead to four. Two from Mulhall, a Cathal Kennedy free and a simple tap over from Danny O'Keeffe meant Athy were virtually out of sight.
The closing quarter saw Naas empty the subs bench and David Shaw added his name to the score sheet. Killian Mulhall got forward from wing back for his first and the closing action was left to two former stars in Darroch Mulhall and Eamonn Callaghan. Mulhall added a free either side of two similar scores for Callaghan but they were consolation for Naas as Athy won out on a 0-17 to 1-7 scoreline.
ATHY: Will Kenny; Shane McGovern, Niall McEvoy 0-1, Darragh English, Donal McGrath, Liam Byrne, Killian Mulhall 0-1; Brian Kinahan, Conor Kelly 0-2; Cathal Kennedy 0-2 (1f), Tony Gibbons, Killian Farrell 0-5 (1tp), Darroch Mulhall 0-5 (1pf,2f),Cian Reynolds, Danny O'Keeffe 0-1. Subs: Aodhan Lawlor for McGrath, 47; Sean Ronan for O'Keeffe, 52.
NAAS: David Morrissey; Brian Hoctor, Conor McCarthy, Conor Breen, Paddy Kelly, Rob Murray, Eoghan Healy; Tom McGrane, Colm Joyce; Ailin McDermott 0-2, Dallan Gallagher, Alex Lenehan 0-1,Drew Costello, Eamonn Callaghan 1-3 (3f), John Joyce. Subs: Liam O'Connor for Healy, 39; David Shaw 0-1 for J Joyce, 46; Shane Gibbons for Kelly, 46; Jason Kenny for Lenehan, 60; Conor Donoghue for C Joyce, 60.
REFEREE: Henry Barrett.
