Seniors crash out of Leinster

Post date: Nov 16, 2011 1:34:10 PM

Leinster club Senior championship:

Athy............ 1-8

Edenderry.... 1-5

Edenderry seniors crashed out of the Leinster championship on Sunday with after a late goal from substitute Danny O'Keefe. Overall on the balance of play the Kildare champions were the stronger side and they won the crucial midfield battle.

It took eight and a half minutes for either side to register a score and it came for Athy when they hit their firs to two first half points. Another eight minutes would pass before Edenderry got their first score and it came courtesy of a kick free from Johnny Hurst who hit an excellent pass into the square to Stuart Cullen who allowed the ball to run on finding Keith McGuinness who finished the ball superbly to the back of the net. In the twenty fifth minute Edenderry got their first point of the game when a quick free from Wayne Mooney found Martin Keogh who gave a great ball to Stuart Cullen and it was Cullen who sent the ball over the bar. Athy equalized straight away through James Eaton but Edenderry would have the final say of the half in the twenty seventh minute when Mark Young and Martin Keogh combined to to put through Keith McGuinness who pointed for Edenderry to give them a half

time lead of 1-2 to 0-2.

Half time:

Athy 0-2 1-2 Edenderry

Edenderry three point lead didn't last long as a Kevin Feely inspired Athy blitzed Edenderry in the first nine minute hitting five unanswered points. There would then be a ten minute lull where neither side managed a score but in the nineteenth minute it was again Athy who got the vital score to give them a three point lead. To their credit Edenderry kept battling hard and registered their first score of the second half in the twenty second minute when some great play by Colm Byrne and the two substitutes Daniel Nolan and Sean Doyle combined and Stephen Guing made sure of the finish. Just one minute later a quick free from Richie Dalton to Derek Kelly left just one between the sides. Johnny Hurst won the resulting kickout and played it to Stephen Guing who set up Keith McGuinness for his second point of the day to level matters with just six minutes remaining. However Edenderry's dreams were shattered just one minute later when a high ball into the square was caught by substitute Danny O'Keefe who hit an unstoppable shot to the roof of the net to give Athy a three point cushion. Edenderry threw everything at the Kildare champions but it was to no avail as referee Gary McCormack blew the final whistle.

This was very disappointing loss for Edenderry but it cannot take away from what has been a phenomenal year for the reds. On the day Edenderry were best served by David Hanlon, Colm Byrne, Sean Pender, Stuart Cullen and Keith McGuinness.

Team Sheet:

Brian Quinlan, Diarmaid Meleady, David Hanlon, Sean Pender, Colm Byrne, Johnny Hurst, Wayne Mooney, Stephen Guing(0-1), Richie Dalton, Martin Keogh, Basil Malone, Keith McGuinness(1-2), Derek Kelly(0-1), Stuart Cullen(0-1), Mark Young

Subs used: Ciaran Hurley for Basil Malone, Sean Doyle for Martin Keogh, Daniel Nolan for Mark Young, Colin McNamara for Wayne Mooney.