Sallins come back from the dead to shock Athy in Kildare SFL

Kildare Intermediate champions Sallins surged late to topple SFC winners Athy when they visited Geraldine Park in the latest round of Hanlon Concrete Kildare Senior Football League Division 1. The visitors were seemingly on their way to a routine loss before overturning a five-point deficit with five minutes to go to steal victory from the jaws of defeat.

After an early Athy goal chance jolted everyone into life, Sallins were first on the scoresheet after some quick feet from Cian Grimes that earned him space to score.

Athy responded with a lovely two-pointer from Kieran Farrell and a free from Tony Gibbons to move two clear. 

Sallins levelled thanks to a two-pointer of their own after a wonderfully struck Cian Grimes free off the deck. The Sallins wing-forward went on to get six of his side’s seven first half points.

The home side hit the next three however with Gibbons, Michael Spillane and Max Conway all on the scoresheet before Athy passed up a second goal chance.

Athy earned that advantage before slashing it themselves with two frees brought up in front of the posts for Cian Grimes to tap over. The voice of Barry Kelly on the sideline influencing one of them. That pair of simple set-pieces concessions left this game at 0-6 to 0-5 after 20 minutes.

A free at each end, from Niall Kelly for Athy and Stephen Kelly for Sallins, arrived before Grimes levelled things with a superb score from play after cutting in off the left. 

Athy shot two clear after a truly unique spiralling effort from outside the arc dropped over the bar from the boot of Killian Mulhall.

Niall Kelly got the half’s final point with a free to leave the home side with an 0-10 to 0-7 lead at the break.

It took four minutes for the first score after the restart and it came from Athy’s Seán Moore when he bounced off his opposite number before knocking the ball over of his left side.

Niall Kelly put Athy five clear with a free which was brought up following a brief wrestling match in the middle of the field.

Sallins needed something and got it when Rory Gavin booted over a long-ranger to raise an orange flag. 

James McGrath smashed the crossbar on the next Athy attack as another goal chance went begging. Brian Kelly pointed soon after to bring the gap back out to four.

A point from Athy corner-back Darren Lawler on the counter meant the home side led 0-14 to 0-9 headed into the final 10 minutes.

Sallins’ attacking output existed merely in moments and set-pieces as they struggled to build very many cohesive attacks throughout this game. Their frustrations were obvious but the visitors had a special finale to come for all in attendance.

A point from the no.13’s at each end, Stephen Kelly and Brian Kelly, kept that five-point margin intact heading into the last five minutes.

Quick-fire scores from Luke Kelly and Luke Killian brought Sallins within three before Kelly sent Cian Grimes on the attack. The game’s undoubted star to that point had a tight angle to work with but, with Athy goalkeeper and another red shirt in his way, he somehow found the bottom of the far corner to draw this game level.

With two minutes left, the Athy team that looked to be rambling towards victory were now under the cosh, big time.

Cian Grimes was again at the heart of their demise after his side won possession back with Athy all at sea. Fearful of further damage from the wing-forward with 1-6 to his name, the defenders in red impeded Grimes leaving Stephen Kelly a simple close-range free to win this game for Sallins.

The last-gasp set-piece was enough for Sallins to take a shock away victory by 1-13 to 0-15 with the home support left shell shocked by the late collapse.

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Sallins, Cian Grimes 1-6 (0-4 fs, 1 x 2ptf), Stephen Kelly 0-3 (0-2 fs), Rory Gavin 0-2 (1 x 2pt), Luke Kelly 0-1, Luke Killian 0-1.

Athy, Niall Kelly 0-3 (0-3 fs), Kieran Farrell 0-2 (1 x 2pt), Tony Gibbons 0-2 (0-1 fs), Killian Mulhall 0-2 (1 x 2pt), Brian Kelly 0-2, Michael Spillane 0-1, Max Conway 0-1, Seán Moore 0-1, Darren Lawler 0-1.

SALLINS: Ryan Herbert; Ruairi O'Domhnaill, Mark Moynihan, Sean Egan; Luke Kelly, Sean O'Domhnaill, Glen McEvoy; Daragh Mangan, Sean Conway; Cian Grimes, Luke Killian, Rory Gavin; Stephen Kelly, Alan Marshall, Sean McDonnell. Subs: Lorcan McKenna for Alan Marshall (40 minutes).

ATHY: Shane Jackman; Darren Lawler, Michael Spillane, Niall McEvoy; Killian Mulhall, Mark Hyland, Seán Moore; Conor Kelly, James McGrath; Kieran Farrell, Tony Gibbons, Jack Dooley; Brian Kelly, Max Conway, Niall Kelly. Subs: Feidhlim Behan for Tony Gibbons (50 minutes).

Referee: Niall Colgan