Kelly shoots the lights out as Athy book U21 final spot

Athy 2-19

Clane 2-7

Tony Donohue Trophies U21 A Championship semi-final

With new county senior manager Cian O'Neill in attendance at Hawkfield, Niall Kelly gave an indication as to why the Kildare boss might well build the Lilywhites attack around him for the foreseeable future. The Athy attacker bagged nine points from centre-forward, with seven of those coming from play. At this level it is not a question of keeping him out of the game for the opposition, but trying to stop him from completely controlling the game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i52yTi7UKM

At stages he he didn't completely run the game, but he was very pivotal at times and it was his five points within the first ten minutes of the second half that was what really gave Athy the platform for victory. There were plenty of other players on show that would have caught O'Neill's eye. David Hyland was superb at midfield in the second half for Athy, while Tony Martin was also a menace from corner-forward for the victors.

On the Clane side, Brian Mc Laughlin was their stand-out player and looks the most likely of last year's minor team to make the step up to senior.

There was some very good football on display despite the abject weather conditions, and it was Athy who accustomed themselves to the pitch as they hit plundered 1-4 without reply in the opening 10 minutes.

Kelly stroked over the first score of the day from a free, before Tadgh Foley found the net for the reds after John Moran made a splendid run down the right wing and played the ball across the face of the goal for his full-forward to palm in. Tony Martin then kicked a brace of fine frees either side of a lovely effort from Kelly, and suddenly Clane were seven points in arrears.

They were dragged back into the tie by Mc Laughlin though, with the 18-year-old operating from wing-forward and causing havoc. He scored Clane's first four points of the game in a fine individual 15 minute spell. The first came form a free, the second a booming 40 yard effort after a well worked free between himself and Ethan O'Donoghue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jT1dtbYewo

Kelly responded at the other end with a stunning point, before adding another from a placed ball but Mc Laughlin picked off two more scores straight after, the second of which was superbly set up by substitute Robbie Hyland and Paddy Mc Kenna slotted over a tidy point from long range.

Rory Feeley had the last say in the first half though, as he stroked over the point of the day with a sumptuous effort from outside the '45 to leave the half-time score at 1-7 to 0-5 in favour of Athy.

The second half followed a pattern much like the first as Athy were much superior to their opponents in the first few minutes, but Clane showed good spirit to fight back and grab a foothold in the game. Another long range Feeley point and a score from Kelly was added to by a brilliant curling effort from Hyland after he broke down the right wing with the ball as Athy took control in the opening three minutes of the new half.

Kelly added another score but Clane forced their way back into the tie with a pair of goals in the space of 30 seconds. The first came through Jake Devey as he ran onto a pass from Mc Laughlin and finished superbly from 15 yards out. O'Donoghue quickly followed that score with a goal of his own and Clane were back to within three points of their opponents.

Kelly took over then however, and three quickfire points from the county star opened the gap up again before a pair of points from Martin and a fisted effort from Hyland effectively finished the game as a contest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CypOzwrMpwE

Mc Laughlin stifled the scoring run of Athy with a free, but Tomás Foley added a second goal for Athy to further coompound Clane's misery. Martin and Hyland scored late points either side of a Mc Laughlin free, but it made little difference to the outcome of the game.

After seeing both games in Hawkfield on Sunday you would have to say Athy will be strong favourites when they face Balyna in next weekend's final.

Athy scorers: N Kelly 0-9(2f), T Martin 0-5(2f), D Hyland 0-3, Tadgh Foley and Tomás Foley 1-0 each, R Feeley 0-2.

Clane scorers: B Mc Laughlin 0-6(4f), E O'Donoghue and J Devey 1-0 each, P Mc Kenna 0-1.

Athy

M Prior; Tomas Foley, K Mulhall, D Fennelly; S Mc Govern, D Hyland, J Moran; P Connell, M Hyland; R Feeley, N Kelly, B Kelly; T Martin, Tadgh Foley, M Kelly.

Subs used: D Kelly, D O'Toole, K Hyland and S Maye.

Clane

P Ó Siochru; S O'Rourke, S Lynch, N Wyer; C Smith, P Mc Creevy, T Montgomery; R Phillips, P Mc Kenna; B Mc Laughlin, L O'Brien, J Devey; C Egan, E O'Donoghue, S Christiansen.

Subs used: R Hyland, C Kelly and K Davey.