Feely on fire as Athy put down Kildare SFC marker against Sarsfields

Joe Mallon motors SFC, Group B, Round 1

Athy 4-9

Sarsfields 1-12

Conditions for this much anticipated clash were deplorable at Manguard Park on Friday evening as favourites Sarsfields took on Athy in the opening game in the Joe Mallon Motors SFC Group B clash.
And it was Vinny Walsh's side who sprung out of the traps like their lives depended on it.

Within 13 seconds of the throw-in Marc Courtney-Byrne was taking the ball out of his net after Paschal Connell linked up with Conor Doyle who hit it low into the Sarsfields net; and within a further 30 seconds Niall Kelly made it 1-1 with Sarsfields hardly handling the ball at that stag.

Ben McCormack opened The Sash account after two but two minutes later the Sarsfields defence was breached again when a free, close to the sideline, saw Niall Kelly find Kevin Feely, who made a great fetch, turned and bangm — goal no. 2

Ben McCormack and Niall Kelly changed points; Niall Kelly, with another brilliant centre, again caught by Feely, who this time took his mark to make it 2-3 to 0-2 with just 12 minutes on the clock.
Breathtaking stuff.

Slowly Sarsfields got their act together and with the impressive Kieran Dwyer, Colm Hartnett and Con Kavanagh all finding the range mid-way through the score read 2-3 to 0-5.

However a minute later those three points were wiped out in a carbon copy of the second goal; again Niall Kelly was the provider; Kevin Feely again the fetcher, the ball again nesting in the Sarsfields net — 3-4 to 0-5.

Sarsfields refused to buckle; Dan Nea converted a free before a Karl Hartley goal attempt was blocked by a defender but the breaking ball fell to Ray Cahill who first-timed it to the net and when the same player converted a free the score now read Athy 3-3 Sarsfields 1-7

David Hyland kept the score board ticking over for the boys in red as the half-time whistle arrived – Athy 3-4 Sarsfields 1-7.
And with the wind and strong rain on the Sarsfields backs in the second half we could look forward to another thrilling half of championship football.

Ray Cahill reduced the deficit on the resumption as Sarsfields pushed up big-time on Athy.

Kevin Feely replied before Cahill hit a long range free as the rain, which had abated at the start of the second half, returned big time.

Barry Kelly who worked his socks off throughout gained possession from a poor kick-out, was fouled and this time Kevin Feely found the range with his left peg.

Four Sarsfields wides in a row did nothing for their cause, or their confidence, before Niall Kelly stretched the lead back to four points.

Kieran Dwyer got forward ahead again to point; another wide followed before a brilliant block by Mark Hyland denied Callum Bolton.

Five minute remaining, Sarsfields still in the game but another short, followed by a miss-directed free before Kieran Dwyer, his third of the game, had the lead back to two, 62 on the clock.

An Athy attack then put the game to bed as substitute Sean Moore linked up with fellow substitute, Ben Purcell, who kept his composure before blasting past Marc Courtney-Byrne for goal no. 4.

Alan Smith replied for Sarsfields before Barry Kelly got the final score of the game as the long whistle arrived in the 66 minute – Athy 4-9 Sarsfields 1-12.

A cracking game, well refereed by Billy O'Connell with top class games for the winners from Darren Lawler, David Hyland; Kevin Feely and the Kelly boys, Niall and Barry.

Big disappointment for The Sash; have often played a lot poorer and won but not on this occasion; with Kieran Dwyer their stand-out player and while others played well at times they simply were not consistent enough over the 60 minutes plus, and with Sarsfields playing Naas next Friday this championship is coming to the boil early.

Scorers: Athy, Kevin Feely 2-3 (mark, free), Ben Purcell 1-0, Niall Kelly 0-3, Conor Doyle 1-0, David Hyland 0-1, Paschal Connell 0-1, Barry Kelly 0-1.

Sarsfields, Ray Cahill 1-2 (2 frees), Kieran Dwyer 0-3, Con Kavanagh 0-2, Ben McCormack 0-2, Colm Hartnett 0-1, Dan Nea 0-1 (free), Alan Smith 0-1.

ATHY: James Roycroft; Cathal McCarron, Sean Bride, Shane McGovern; David Hyland, Darren Lawler, Killian Mulhall; Kevin Feely, Paschal Connell; Conor Doyle, Kieran Farrell, Paudie Behan; Mark Hyland, Barry Kelly, Niall Kelly. Subs: Sean Moore for Kieran Farrell (34 minutes); Liam McGovern for Conor Doyle (43 minutes); Conor Kelly for Killian Mulhall (47 minutes); Ben Purcell for Paudie Behan (50 minutes); Shane Jackman for Barry Kelly (66 minute).

SARSFIELDS: Marc Courtney-Byrne; Ethan Mountaine, Sean Campbell, Cian Byrne; Shea Ryan, David Higgins, Kieran Dwyer; Tadhg Hoey, David Shalvey; Con Kavanagh, Ben McCormack, Colm Hartnett; Karl Hartley, Ray Cahill, Dan Nea. Subs: Callum Bolton for Sean Campbell (42 minutes); Jake Loakman for Karl Hartley (49 minutes); Alan Smyth for Dan Nea (50 minutes); Gary White for Con Kavanagh (57 minutes).

REFEREE: Billy O'Connell.