Athy work hard to shake off Raheens
Athy came out on top 3-15 to 1-13 to reach the semi-final stage
Athy 3-15
Raheens 1-13
Athy are through to the semi-final of the Joe Mallon Motors SFC quarter-final with a seven point win over Raheens in the second game at Manguard Park, Hawkfield on Saturday
The final score line probably is a little hard on the Caragh boys but no doubt the best team advanced after a second half that at one stage looked like Athy would pull clear but Raheens, showing their renowned fighting spirit, cut a seven point lead back to two before the boys from the south pulled clear once again.
Raheens opened with a point from Niall Dolan and while Colm Moran replied a minute later Athy showed their teeth when a long ball in from Niall Kelly was brilliantly fetched by Kevin Feely on the edge of the square, the county man turned before blasting to the back of the net.
Niall Dolan quickly added a point as Graham Waters and Barry Kelly picked up early yellows.
Kevin Feely added a point, Niall Kelly a free and Feely a mark to make it 1-4 to 0-2 on 14 minutes.
Fionn Cooke picked up a knee injury which was a blow to Raheens, Ben Purcell and Niall Kelly (free) added points as Raheens looked in a bit of bother as Feely added another.
However Gavin Thompson added five points before the break as the half-time arrived Athy leading 1-7 to 0-7.
Michael Spillane and Fionn Tully exchanged points before Niall Kelly found Ben Purcell who fired to the Raheens net to make it 2-9 to 0-8.
However Raheens hit back quickly and decisively when a long ball into the danger area saw Jack Taaffe get a touch and the ball was in the back of the Athy net.
It got better for Raheens with points from Luke Donovan and David Mac Partlin as the lead was down to a mere two points.
Athy responded with points from Niall Kelly (free) and Cian Keaveney and while Gavin Thompson replied with a free we were back to a three point game.
Darren Lawlor picked up a straight red while Gavin Thompson a yellow but a few minutes later the Raheens sharp shooter joined Lawlor on the line after getting a second yellow.
Colly Power fired over a brilliant point for the Caragh lads before a sweeping move ended with James Eaton firing to the Raheens net.
Power added another point but there was no denying Athy who added points from Kevin Feely and Ben Purcell, Colm Moran and Eaton again as the boys in red booked their semi-final spot on a final score line of Athy 3-15 Raheens 1-13.
Scorers: Athy, Kevin Feely 1-3 (mark), Niall Kelly 0-4 (4 frees), Ben Purcell 1-3, James Eaton 1-1, Colm Moran 0-2, Michael Spillane 0-1, Cian Keaveney 0-1.
Raheens, Gavin Thompson 0-6 (5 frees), Jack Taaffe 1-0, Niall Dolan 0-2, Colm Power 0-2, David Mac Partlin 0-1, Fionn Tully 0-1, Liam O'Donovan 0-1.
ATHY: John Roycroft; Michael Spillane, Cathal McCarron, Darren Lawlor; Ryan Bowden, Padraic Spillane, Colm Moran; Pascal Connell, Conor Doyle; Barry Kelly, John Moran, Brian Maher; Niall Kelly, Kevin Feely, Dean Purcell. Subs: Liam McGovern for Barry Kelly (21 minutes); Conor Kelly for Pascal Connell (40 minutes); Cian Keaveney for John Moran (half-time); James Eaton for Conor Doyle (45 minutes); Sean Moore for Liam McGovern (50 minutes
RAHEENS: David Mac Partlin; Niall Cramer, Jack Hamill, Tom Early; Graham Waters, Shane McSweeney, Conor Earley; Matthew Bett-Symonds, Dara Crowley; Fionn Cooke, Niall Dolan, Luke O'Donovan; Fionn Tully, Jack Taaffe, Gavin Thompson. Subs: Conor Kelly for Fionn Cooke (15 minutes); Colm Power for Matthew Betts-Symonds (48 minutes); Liam Power for Luke O'Donovan (54 minutes); Daniel Hamill for Shane McSweeney (50 minutes); Killian Thompson for Graham Waters (59 minutes).
REFEREE: Henry Barrett.