Relegation drama as Athy send Milltown down with thrilling one-point win
Athy beat Milltown 1-15 to 2-11 with two late frees to keep them in Division 1 and send Milltown down in their place
Athy avoided shock relegation from Kildare Senior Football League Division 1 with a one-point win over Milltown in Etex Geraldine Park, a draw for the visitors would have been enough to send the county champions down in their place.
With Clane only needing a win or draw elsewhere to survive (and later doing so), this game was rightly tagged as a relegation shootout with Milltown having the aforementioned advantage of a draw being enough.
Seán Moore’s opener was matched by Calum Murphy at the other end before Liam Kelly put the visitors ahead. That lead was short-lived too as Ronan Kelly restored parity after seven minutes.
The county champs, with the aid of a breeze and their returning senior county panel members, then rattled off the game’s next six points to put daylight between the teams. Three from Calum Keaveny was added to by Michael Spillane, Niall Kelly and Cian Keaveny to have Athy lead by those six after 15 minutes played.
Milltown stopped the rot with a mid-range score from Conor Sheerin which was quickly followed by Ben Curran from out wide.
David Hyland struck for Athy after a sharp one-two up top before back-to-back two-pointers shot Milltown back to within one. Alan Dignam with a superb set-piece strike off the deck into the breeze and a lovely curling effort from Ben Heuston left this game 0-9 to 0-8 after 23 minutes.
It was time for experience to play a factor as Athy grabbed hold of possession to simmer this contest. Niall Kelly and returning Kildare captain Kevin Feely extended their advantage once again.
There was a late sting in the half for Milltown who conceded a goal in first half added time when Pádraig Spillane slipped in Jack Dooley who side-footed the ball into the top left corner.
The relegation-threatened county champions looked set for escape at the break with a 1-11 to 0-8 lead.
However, the visitors came out like a house on fire with Calum Murphy’s second point being followed by a goal from Ben Curran who found the net off his left side after an incisive forward handpass.
Athy hit back with a two-pointer from Niall Kelly. The ball bounced back to the home side’s sharpshooter after David Hyland’s own effort from outside the arc was blocked.
The home side led by four with 15 minutes to go but, less than 60 seconds after the midpoint of the second half, Milltown found the net again. A short kick-out from Athy was knocked free to Patrick Donohue who surged a few strides towards goal before beautifully lobbing the retreating Shane Jackman to make this game 1-13 to 2-9.
Donohue continued to dazzle and levelled the game after Liam Kelly carried the visitors up the pitch and he slotted over from out wide. The wing-forward then gave Milltown their first lead since the fifth minute when he strode down the right of the Athy defence and curled over yet another sumptuous score.
Athy levelled with a Niall Kelly close-range free after a foul where Sean Murphy was black carded for dragging down second half substitute Barry Kelly. The concept of ‘taking one for the team’ sprang to mind.
The infringement that would ultimately help Athy win this game was less clear cut as Kevin Byrne rose above Kelly and slapped the ball clear but came down on the Athy attacker. The whistle was blown after the aerial contest that the forward had shown little interest in and Niall Kelly gave Athy the all-important lead in the 56th minute.
Milltown did have a couple more guilt-edge chances with it all on the line. The best of which fell to Ben Curran who curled wide at the near post before their final attack which fizzled out after an ill-advised effort from Conor Sheerin.
In the end, the county champions stayed up after a 1-15 to 2-11 win with Milltown relegated to Division 2. The side suffering the drop are no doubt among the favourites for this year’s Intermediate Championship and you can see why having been much better than their league position suggests so far this year.
Athy, Niall Kelly 0-6 (0-2 frees, 1 x 2pt), Calum Keaveny 0-3, Jack Dooley 1-0, Cian Keaveny 0-1 (0-1 frees), Ronan Kelly 0-1, Seán Moore 0-1, Michael Spillane 0-1, David Hyland 0-1, Kevin Feely 0-1.
Milltown, Patrick Donohue 1-2, Ben Curran 1-1, Ben Heuston 0-3 (1 x 2pt), Alan Dignam 0-2 (1 x 2ptf), Calum Murphy 0-2, Conor Sheerin 0-1.
ATHY: Shane Jackman; Michael Spillane, Mark Hyland, Niall McEvoy; David Hyland, Padraig Spillane, Seán Moore; Conor Kelly, Kevin Feely; Calum Keaveny, James McGrath, Jack Dooley; Cian Keaveny, Ronan Kelly, Niall Kelly. Subs: Paudi Behan for Conor Kelly (40 minutes), Conor Doyle for Jack Dooley (45 minutes), Barry Kelly for Cian Keaveny (47 minutes), Cathal McCarron for David Hyland (60 minutes).
MILLTOWN: Omar Dunne; Sean Murphy, Cian Buckley, Eoghan Colgan; Kevin Byrne, Colin O'Shea, Liam Kelly; Joe Dunne, Conor Sheerin; Ben Curran, Alan Dignam, Patrick Donohue; Ben Heuston, Ronan O'Shea, Calum Murphy. Subs: Hugh Hamilton for Colin O'Shea (46 minutes), Aaron Jacob for Calum Murphy (52 minutes).
Referee: Billy O’Connell