Athy win high-scoring cracker against Maynooth

Joe Mallon Motors SFC Preliminary Round

Athy 1-24

Maynooth 3-16

You'll go a long way before you get a game similar to what we witnessed in the second game at Manguard Park on Saturday afternoon in the Joe Mallon Motors SFC Preliminary round.

An incredible tally of no less than 44 scores in total with Athy getting over the line following a late scoring burst to defeat a very gallant, and talented, Maynooth side 1-14 to 3-19.

But hats off to both teams while commiserations to Maynooth, can't remember the last time a team scored 3-16 and found themselves on the wrong end of a championship game.

The open four points were shared between the sides before Maynooth took the lead through Cathal Quinn.

Athy hit back with three white flags from Padraig Spillane, Brian Maher and John Moran but that lead did not last long as Ciaran Flanagan and Paddy Mahoney had the sides level.

The opening goal arrived on 13, Ciaran Flanagan gets the ball to to Fionn Ó Giolláin who finished to the net.

John Moran and Cathal McCarron replied as the scores came thick and fast.

Maynooth's second goal was next up when a quick Paddy Mahoney free to Ó Giolláin ended up in the hands of Chris Canning who forced the ball over the line to lead 2-5 to 0-7.

Kieran Farrell and Niall Kelly replied with points with Chris Canning and Ciaran Flanagan doing likewise.

Kevin Feely converted a free, Niall Kelly added another before Cathal McCabe hit a brilliant point, followed by a Paddy Mahoney free; Niall Kelly added two points; Cathal McCabe with a free as the half-time whistle arrived Maynooth leading 2-10 to 0-13.

Athy added three points on the resumption, Cathal McCabe added a free before goal no. 3 arrived on 42 minutes, Paddy Mahoney finding Matthew Eustace who fired to the net to make it 3-11 to 0-16.

A point for each followed before Athy went on a scoring spree hitting 1-6, the goal coming from Cathal Kennedy who was barely on a minute, the score now reading1-22 to 3-13. Incredible stuff.

There was still time for another seven points, three for Athy, four for Maynooth and just at the end Maynooth's Cathal Quinn picked up a red as Athy ended won 1-24 to 3-16.

Scorers: Athy, Niall Kelly 0-5 (3 frees), Kevin Feely 0-4 (2 frees), Cathal Kennedy 1-0, James Eaton 0-3 (2 frees), John Moran 0-2, Ben Purcell 0-2, Liam McGovern 0-2 (1 free), Cathal McCarron 0-1, Brian Maher 0-1, Kieran Farrell 0-1, Padraig Spillane 0-1, Colm Moran 0-1, Cian Keaveney 0-1.

Maynooth, Chris Canning 1-1, Cathal McCabe 0-4 (3 frees), Fionn Ó Giolláin 1-0, Matthew Eustace 1-0, Paddy O'Mahoney 0-3 (2 frees), Ciaran Flanagan 0-2, Kevin Donovan 0-2, Paul Maguire 0-1, Cathal Quinn 0-1, John Flattery 0-1 (free), Sean Hever 0-1 (free).

ATHY: James Roycroft; Padraig Spillane, Cathal McCarron, Darren Lawler; Michael Spillane, James McGrath, Brian Maher; Ryan Bowden, Kevin Feely; John Moran, Kieran Farrell, Barry Kelly; Ben Purcell, Niall Kelly, Sean Moore. Subs: Liam McGovern for Kieran Farrell (half-time); Colm Moran for Sean Moore (38 minutes); James Eaton for Niall Kelly (49 minutes); Cian Keaveney for Ryan Bowden (52 minutes); Cathal Kennedy for Ben Purcell (53 minutes).

MAYNOOTH: Mark Donnellan; Cathal Quinn, Niall O'Sullivan, Darren Maguire; Matthew Eustace, Paddy Brady, Daniel O'Meara; Paul Maguire, Ciaran Flanagan; Sean Higgins, Fionn Ó Giolláin, Sean Creevy; Paddy Mahoney, Chris Canning, Cathal McCabe. Subs: John Flattery for Sean Creevy (25 minutes); Sean Mahon for Matthew Eustace (46 minutes); Daniel Farrell for Sean Higgins (50 minutes); Cillian Geraghty for Paddy Mahoney (55 minutes).

REFEREE: Henry Barrett.