Athy get title defence up and running
Kilcock Danny Maguire and Athy Sean Moore
In the end, it was a slightly flattering ten point win for Athy, but only after they had been pushed all the way by a very competitive Kilcock side.
Athy led 0-8 to 0-4 at half-time but Kilcock struck the first four points after the restart to tie up the game.
Niall Kelly (2) and Kevin Feely scored to give Athy the advantage again before what was perhaps the key moment in the game in the 46th minute. A powerful shot from Mark Gibbons crashed off the inside of the post when a goal would have tied the game, with the score at 0-11 to 0-8. A goal at that stage would have made for a very interesting final quarter.
Kevin Feely then scored at the far end to make it a four point game, before another let off for Athy. After Adam Doyle’s shot dropped short, Danny Maguire’s gathered the ball and his first effort was blocked on the line by Padraic Spillane. The corner forward was first to the rebound his shot clipped the bar on the way over rather than rippling the net.
The remainder of the game was pretty much one-way traffic as Athy finally wore down their dogged opponents.
Ronan Kelly rattled a post before Calum Keaveny sent a delightful two point effort sailing through the posts. Sean Moore and Niall Kelly landed points before David Hyland got forward to land a two-pointer in trademark style. The former Kildare captain then added a single point for good measure.
Cian Keaveney rounded off that scoring burst with a well taken effort not long after he had entered the game in place of his brother.
It turned out to convincing win in the end but Athy were made work much harder for it than the final scoreline would suggest.
Shane Jackman; Darren Lawler, Mark Hyland, Michael Spillane, Brian Maher, Cathal McCarron 0-1, Sean Moore 0-2; David Hyland 0-3 (1tp), Kevin Feely 0-2; Calum Keaveny 0-3 (1tp, 1’45), Paudi Behan, Conor Doyle, Ronan Kelly 0-2, Barry Kelly, Niall Kelly 0-6 (3fs). Subs: James McGrath for Behan, 35; Ben Purcell for B Kelly, 39; Padraic Spillane for McCarron, 44; Jack Dooley for Maher, 54; Cian Keaveny 0-1 for C Keaveny, 58.
Fionn Talbot; Eoghan Conroy, Johnny O’Sullivan, Dylan Morrow, Finn Dowling, Jason Gibbons, Chris McCarthy; Brendan Gibbons 0-1, Mark Gibbons 0-1; Danny Byrne 0-1f, Shane O’Rourke 0-2 (1tp), Adam Doyle 0-1, Danny Maguire 0-4 (1f), Andy Dalton, Sean O’Sullivan. Subs: Cameron Nairn for McCarthy, 39; Joe Fitzmaurice for O’Sullivan, 50; Cormac Divilly for Doyle, 52; Michael Stokes for O’Rourke, 54; Hugh Dowling for Byrne, 58.
Fergal Barry.
