Feely's early goal sets Athy on the path to the last four
Kevin Feely's early goal set Athy on the way to victory against Raheens today Photo: Sean Brilly
Three Athy goals either side of half time were enough to see them back into another semi final of the Joe Mallon Motors Senior Football Championship.
The inclusion of Kevin Feely from the start after a spell out injured was a major boost to the men in red and his second minute goal set them on their way.
Niall Kelly with two frees, Ben Purcell and Colm Moran were all on the scoreboard but the accurate boot of Gavin Thompson meant Raheens only trailed by 1-7 to 0-7 at the break.
The opening minutes of the second half were helter skelter as the sides swapped goals inside two minutes, Ben Purcell on 33 minutes for Athy and Jack Taffee with a deft flick for Raheens. Gavin Thompson and Colm Power reduced the gap to two but that was as close as Raheens would get.
Athy saw out the victory in style. The experienced James Eaton, on a substitute, was on hand to fire home the third goal after Colm Moran played him through. Feely, Purcell Moran and Eaton all added late points to set up the semi final meeting against Naas or Johnstownbridge.
James Rycroft, Michael Spillane 0-1, Cathal McCarron, Darren Lawler, Ryan Bowden, Padraic Spillane, Colm Moran 0-2, Paschal Connell, Conor Doyle, Barry Kelly, John Moran, Brian Maher, Niall Kelly 0-3fs, Kevin Feely 1-4 (1f,1m), Ben Purcell 1-3. Subs: Liam McGovern for B Kelly, 21; Cian Keaveney 0-1 for J Moran, h/t; Conor Kelly for Connell, 39; James Eaton 1-1 for Doyle, 44; Sean Moran for McGovern, 50.
David Mc Partlin 0-1f, Niall Cramer, Jack Hamill, Tom Early, Graham Waters, Shane McSweeney, Conor Earley, Matthew Betts Symonds, Dara Crowley, Fionn Cooke, Niall Dolan 0-2, Luke O Donovan 0-1, Fionn Tully 0-1, Jack Taffee 1-0, Gavin Thompson 0-6 (5fs). Subs: Conor Kelly for Cooke, 14; Colm Power 0-2 for Betts Symonds, 47; Liam Power for O'Donovan, 54; Killian Thompson for Waters, 57.
Henry Barrett
