Athy edge past St Laurence's in season opener

Aldridge Cup Round 1

Athy 1-12

St Laurence's 1-8

Athy got their first win of 2024 with a second half surge to beat St Laurence’s in the opening round of the Aldridge Cup on Saturday.

It was the eight minute before the opening score arrived with Athy, playing at home, would get things underway in this game by hitting the back of the net.

Ben Purcell was bearing down on goal, but the full-forward thought better of shooting himself and found Brian Kelly with a pass across the face of goal. Brian Kelly finished the ball low into the corner of the net to ignite this game.

The visitors responded with a fine point from Cian Miley. The side’s exchanged a point a minute at either end in the time that followed to leave this game 1-2 to 0-2 after 15 minutes.

Larries put together a run of three on the trot to draw themselves level in the closing 10 minutes of the half. Cian Miley scoring once and Felix Lawler twice would get their side on terms.

With three minutes to go in the opening half St Laurence’s fired themselves into the lead in some style as they raised a green flag of their own.

Felix Lawler faked to shoot and instead lofted the ball through to midfielder David O’Driscoll who was making a run from deep. O’Driscoll produced a finish to match the superb pass by putting his effort into the top left corner to make 1-5 to 1-2.

Two free-kicks late in the half meant Athy closed the gap to just one before the break as John Moran and Brian Kelly converted their set-pieces. The visitors led at at half-time 1-5 to 1-4 lead.

Athy got level in the second half through the outstanding point scorer of the afternoon in John Moran.

However, goalscorer David O’Driscoll and corner-forward Cian Miley put Larries back in front with 42 minutes on the clock.

Athy would take over from here as they shut out the visiting side until two minutes from the end. John Moran and Ben Purcell restored parity 15 minutes from time.

James Eaton had a goal chance moments later, but took the safe option to notch Athy ahead.

It would be a lead that they would hold until the end of this game as they dominated the closing minutes.

John Moran hit his fifth point of the day to extend his side’s lead, the left-footed half-forward stood out in the shooting department in this fixture.

Ben Purcell and Kieran Farrell extended the Athy margin out to four points as they knocked scores past a leggy Larries defence.

Half-time substitute Cian Reynolds would close out the home side’s scoring with a point four minutes from time.

Cian Miley got the game's last point with a close-range free. Athy ran out relatively comfortable 1-12 to 1-8 winners after a very competitive first 45 minutes of action.

Scorers: Athy, Brian Kelly 1-2 (2 frees), John Moran 0-5 (1 free), Ben Purcell 0-2 (2 frees), James Eaton 0-1, Kieran Farrell 0-1, Cian Reynolds 0-1.

St Laurence's, Cian Miley 0-4 (4 frees), David O'Driscoll 1-1, Felix Lawler 0-3 (2 frees).

ATHY: James Rycroft; Pauric Spillane, Sean Ronan, Darren Lawlor; Killian Mulhall, James McGrath, Shane Jackman; Sean Bride, James Eaton; Conor Doyle, Kieran Farrell, John Moran; Sean Moore, Ben Purcell, Brian Kelly. Subs: Michael Spillane for Conor Doyle (22 minutes), Cian Reynolds for Brian Kelly (Half-time), Niall McEvoy for Sean Ronan (Half-time).

ST LAURENCE'S: Paul Clynch; Jack Dargan, Luke Gorman, Michael O'Sullivan; Conor Hughes, Niall Clynch, Niall O'Connor; David O'Driscoll, Kevin Eustace; Eoin Clarke, Tom Dooley, Joe Hanamy; Felix Lawler, Paddy Moore, Cian Miley. Subs: Eoin Curley for Luke Gorman (22 minutes), Ian Fleming for Michael O'Sullivan, Luke Gorman for Jack Dargan (Half-time), Colm McMahon for Conor Hughes (Half-time), Ciaran O'Sullivan for Eoin Clarke (Half-time), Conn Killeen for Joe Hanamy (Half-time), Eoin Brien for Paddy Moore (40 minutes).

REFEREE: Conor Daly