Niall Kelly stars as Athy grind out win against Raheens

Joe Mallon Motors Senior Football Championship Quarter Finals

Athy 0-8

Raheens 0-4

Athy came out on top in what was a war of attrition against Raheens in Manguard Park. The conditions were far from ideal on the day but 12 points kicked across 60 minutes from these two sides has to be looked at as a disappointing contest.

It was all about Niall Kelly right from the start as he kicked this game off with a score after just one minute after claiming a superb mark. The Athy corner-forward dispatched the resulting kick from long-range excellently considering the swirling wind conditions.

Raheens fell into their game plan almost immediately after the referee’s opening whistle as they put 15 men behind the ball and looked to stifle Athy. They failed to do so initially as Athy added a second point, once again through Niall Kelly, just a minute later.

Despite carving out two early scores, Athy struggled with the conditions as they sought to poke holes in the Raheens’ defensive blanket.

Not much about the flow of the game had changed before Athy’s next score, it came from Kevin Feely who converted a simple close-range free-kick after 18 minutes.

Raheens got their opening score just after the 20-minute mark as corner-forward David Malone burst forward to win a set-piece which left a simple conversion for Paddy Woodgate to give Raheens their opening point of the game.

Raheens captain Colm Power added another with a sharp turn and shot.

The sides would exchange scores at either end to close out the half as Athy went in with an 0-4 to 0-3 lead at the break following an exceptional Paschal Connell point that was quickly answered by Niall Dolan.

Just as he did in the first, Niall Kelly would get the opening score of the half as he spun away from his man and popped a superb effort between the posts.

A Gavin Thompson free would once again reduce the gap to a single point just moments later as Raheens got forward. But it would be Raheens' last score of the day with 20 minutes to go in this game.

Raheens inability to transition the ball forward from their defensive shape meant that their game plan was only effective in a defensive sense and in truth they had no chance of winning the game, breaking forward from so deep in their own half.

Niall Kelly would once again pull Athy clear as he showed his quality and form on the day was far above any of the players that he shared the field with for this game.

to be. Athy substitute Liam McGovern would add a point to his side’s tally before a final score from Niall Kelly to close out this game.

MAIN MAN

Niall Kelly

By far and away the best player on the field in this game. Kelly's 0-5 was more than Raheens managed in the games entirety. There were multiple scores of the highest quality too and on a day where so many struggled with the wind and the rain, the Athy corner-forward stood out even more.

TURNING POINT

The problem for Raheens in this game is that there was no turning point. There was no moment they really went for the throat and sought the win.

TALKING POINT

This game was a huge opportunity for Raheens to get at Athy and give them a run for their money in search of a semi-final place. But that burst and attempt at going for it all just seemed to never come in this game. There may be some regret that this opportunity against a misfiring Athy was not taken or even attempted to be.

WHAT NOW?

Athy will face Celbridge on October 7 at the semi-final stage.

Athy, Niall Kelly 0-5 (0-1 Mark), Kevin Feely 0-1 (0-1 frees), Paschal Connell 0-1, Liam McGovern 0-1.

Raheens, Paddy Woodgate 0-1 (0-1 frees), Colm Power 0-1, Niall Dolan 0-1, Gavin Thompson 0-1 (0-1 frees).

ATHY: James Roycroft; Cathal McCarron, Sean Bride, Darren Lawler; David Hyland, Mark Hyland, James McGrath; Kevin Feely, Paschal Connell; Kieran Farrell, Sean Moore, Killian Mulhall; Niall Kelly, Barry Kelly, Paudie Behan. Subs: Liam McGovern for Sean Moore (39 minutes), Conor Doyle for Kieran Farrell (46 minutes), Ben Purcell for Barry Kelly (48 minutes), Cathal Kennedy for Paudie Behan (59 minutes).

RAHEENS: Declan Campbell; Tom Early, Jack Hamill, Colin Ryan; Graham Waters, Fionn Tully, Killian Thompson; Jason Earley, Dara Crowley; David Fitzpatrick, Paddy Woodgate, Niall Dolan; David Malone, Gavin Thompson, Colm Power. Subs: Shane McSweeney for Killian Thompson (Half-time), Jack Taafe for David Fitzpatrick (46 minutes), Conor Murphy for Niall Dolan (52 minutes), Paul Dolan for Jason Earley (54 minutes), Rob Thompson for Gavin Thompson (55 minutes).

Referee: Niall Colgan