Marvelous Moran inspires Athy
Colm Moran scored an incredible 3-8 in Athy's win over Johnstownbridge Photo: James Lawlor
After Athy's defeat to Celbridge in Round 2 of the Joe Mallon Motors Senior Football Championship there was a feeling that maybe the lacked the quality to advance to the latter stages of the championship. They certainly had the personnel but the manner of the defeat left doubts.
Credit to players and management who certainly worked the magic over the last two weeks and their 3-23 to 1-16 Round 3 win over Johnstownbridge had people sitting up again in anticipation of how far this team could go.
It was a brilliant performance from start to finish and it was young Colm Moran, with a return of 3-8, who stole the show. Johnstownbridge were never allowed settle and the twenty point deficit at half time clearly outlined the gulf in class.
Barry Kelly opened the scoring inside 20 seconds but Sam Doran levelled before a minute had elapsed. A Josh O’Donoghue free on seven would be the Bridge's only other score of the half. Conor Doyle and Niall Kelly both landed two pointers and when Ben Purcell got his first on eight the gap was out to four. Colm Moran pointed a free before he landed a two pointer free from just outside the arc. It was all one way traffic as Conor Doyle and Niall Kelly both added their third.
A long ball from Kevin Feely on 24 minutes saw Ben Purcell fouled and Colm Moran was cool as a cucumber as he sent Eoin Sheehan the wrong way. Trailing by twelve it was a long way back for Johnstownbridge. With two minutes remaining Athy fired home goal number two, again Moran having time to round Sheehan for a simple tap in.
Paidi Behan, making a welcome return to a more withdrawn role fired over a two pointer and it was Moran again who followed Behan with Athy’s 16th point of the half to lead 2-16 to 0-2 after 30 minutes.
Paidi Behan pointed on the change of ends and when Barry Kelly drew a free 30 metres out Colm Moran added the extras. You expected some form of a Johnstownbridge response and Ronan Scanlon hit the first of four second half two pointers. Niall Kelly kept the Athy scoreboard ticking over but even with 25 minutes to play the fire had gone out of the game. Paul Cribben, Sam Doran and a quite brilliant two pointer from Dan Flynn brought the Bridge to 0-8.
Colm Moran was unerring and his 45 metre free into the breeze brought his tally to 2-8. Josh O’Donoghue was a live wire throughout and he goaled after Dean Kelly set him up. He added two two pointer frees to put some respectability to the scoreline.Barry Kelly fisted a point before making way as one of five Athy changes. Sam Doran and O’Donoghue both found the range before the end but it was fitting that Athy's last score should fall to Colm Moran for his and Athy's third goal. He owed it all to Niall Kelly for a defence splitting pass.
The full time whistle was a relief to Johnstownbridge but a major shot in the arm for Athy. Their six forwards were all on target as they contributed 3-22.They move into the quarter finals in rude health and the signs are good for a prolonged run. The Celbridge defeat is firmly forgotten.
Johnstownbridge will have better afternoons. The return to fitness of Dan Flynn will be a boost as they face Eadestown in the preliminary quarter final.
James Rycroft; Sean Moore 0-1, Padraig Spillane, Michael Spillane, Brian Maher, Cathal McCarron, James McGrath; Kevin Feely, David Hyland; Colm Moran 3-8 (1-0pen, 2tpff,1tp,2f), Barry Kelly 0-2, Conor Doyle 0-3 (1tp), Paidi Behan 0-3 (1tp),Ben Purcell 0-2, Niall Kelly 0-4 (1p). Subs: Ronan Kelly for Purcell, 41; Darren Lawler for McCarron, 44; Sean Bride for P Spillane, 55; Jack Dooley for Behan, 55; Brian Kelly for Barry Kelly, 58.
Eoin Sheehan; Kieran Ryan, Tomas Van Englebrechten, Sean McKeon, Shane Flynn, Keith Cribben; Aaron McNally, Ronan Scanlon 0-2 (1tp); Paul Cribben 0-1, Darragh Sloane, Sam Doran 0-5 (1tp), Ryan Rainey, Josh O’Donoghue 1-6 (2tpf,1f), Dean Kelly, Daniel Flynn 0-2 (1tp). Subs: Joey Higgins for Rainey, 44; Conor Flynn for Scanlon, 50; Luke Ennis for Kelly, 55; Ian McKeon for K Cribben 56.
Billy O’Connell
