AIB Leinster Club SFC: Athy cruise to victory

AIB Leinster Club SFC Round One

Athy 3-16 Baltinglass 0-10

Athy have announced their Leinster ambitions with a convincing win over Baltinglass.

Athy complemented their patient build-up play with devastating pace when it was needed. They showed this time and again in rushing into a 0-4 to 0-0 lead inside just 10 minutes, and their dominance on Baltinglass kick-outs meant the Wicklow champions were struggling to gain any foothold in the contest.

But they did improve as the half wore on to trail by just 1-7 to 0-6 at the break, although they could have conceded more than one goal.

While a gorgeous Johnny Keogh two-pointer did cut the deficit at 0-4 to 0-2, Athy continued to push on. Baltinglass’s Tom Burke was called into action after Colm Moran knocked the ball past Mark Jackson, but the first goal did arrive shortly after. Kevin Feely won a kick-out and Athy cut their opponents open. Jackson saved an initial attempt at goal, but Ronan Kelly finished on the rebound. They could have had another goal on 24 minutes, but Mark Jackson made a stop from Niall Kelly to keep the game alive.

A late Jackson two-point free kept his team in the contest, but being four-points down having played with the wind was not where they needed to be. They also spurned a late goal chance; Adam McHugh pointed but should have come away with three after Christopher Heaslip run through a gap in the middle of the Athy rearguard.

Athy made no mistake in putting the game beyond the Wicklow champions within minutes of the restart. A David Hyland two-pointer from play extended their lead almost immediately, and a Ronan Kelly goal on 36 minutes had the Kildare champions 2-9 to 0-6 clear. As Baltinglass were opened again, Niall Kelly applied the finishing touch for his second goal.

Jack Kirwan drilled over a two-pointer to give Baltinglass brief hope, but it was short-lived. Hyland landed another two-pointer, and a James McGrath goal put Athy 3-12 to 0-9 up with only 12 minutes left.

Baltinglass attempted two-pointers – and goals – in their desperate final stages, but they finished up on just 0-10 to 3-16. Athy’s substitutes impressed late on, with Ben Purcell (0-2) and Seán Bride (0-3), bringing Athy to an impressive 3-16.

Scorers for Athy: Ronan Kelly 2-2, David Hyland 0-4 (2tp), Niall Kelly 0-4, J McGrath 1-0, Kevin Feely 0-2 (1f), Ben Purcell 0-2, Colm Moran 0-1, Seán Bride 0-1.

Scorers for Baltinglass: Mark Jackson 0-3 (1tpf, 1f), Johnny Keogh 0-2 (1tp), Jack Kirwan 0-2 (1tp) Christopher Heaslip 0-1, Adam McHugh 0-1, Tommy Keogh 0-1 (f).

Athy: Shane Jackman, Seán Moore, Michael Spillane, Darren Lawlor, Pádraic Spillane, Cathal McCarron, James McGrath, Kevin Feely, David Hyland, Brian Maher, Barry Kelly, Conor Doyle, Ronan Kelly, Colm Moran, Niall Kelly

Subs: Mark Hyland for Seán Moore (42), Ben Purcell for Barry Kelly (44), Cian Keaveney for Colm Moran (51), Seán Bride for Brian Maher (52), Jack Dooley for Conor Doyle (57).

Baltinglass: Mark Jackson, Connor Doody, Tom Burke, Karl Furlong, James Fleming, Arun Daly Danne, Pat Burke, Jack Kirwan, Seán Doody, Patrick Whelan, Johnny Keogh, Christopher Heaslip, John McGrath, Tommy Keogh, Adam McHugh

Subs: Jason Kennedy for Arun Daly-Danne (47), Patrick Kirwan for Seán Doody (52), Stephen Heaslip for Connor Doody (54), Tadhg O’Toole for Jason Kennedy (60).

Referee: David Hickey (Carlow).