Kildare's Athy march on in Leinster

A storming second half displaly saw Athy hold Summerhill to a single point as the Kildare champions booked a place in the semi-final of the AIB Leinster Senior Club Championship at Cedral St Conleth's Park, Newbrige, this evening.

The opening half saw Summerhill tear into Athy right from the throw-in and it took Athy a few minutes to get up the speed of the game as the Meath champions opened a three point lead before Athy , through Brian Maher raised their first white flag.

Midway through the half just two beetween the sides before a brillaint move ended with Athy's Brian Maher found the top left hand corner of the Summerhill net to take the lead for the first time.

Summerhill came back to level before taking the lead on 25 minutes but Athy hit back with a Kevin Feely point and then in time added on David Hyland edged the Kildlare boys ahed by one at the break 1-6 to 0-8.

Little did we know how the second half would pan out as Athy upped their game, tackling like their lives depended on it and while it took them a while to transfer that on the scoreboard slowly but surely they did with points from Colm Moran (2), Sean Moore (2) and a brillilant two-pointer from Niall Kelly saw them lead 1-9 to 0-8 after 43 minutes, Summerhill yet to score.

Conor Lyons eventually got opened for the visitors but Athy motored on hitting an additional seven points to win with ease on a final score line of Athy 1-16 Summerhill 0-9.

Scorers: Athy, Brian Maher 1-1, Kevin Feely 0-3, Niall Kelly 0-3 (1 two-pointer), Ben Purcell 0-2, Sean Moore 0-2, Colm Moran 0-2, David Hyland 0-1, Niall Kelly 0-1 (free), James McGrath 0-1, Cian Keaveney 0-1.

Summerhill, Liam Shaw 0-4 (3 frees), Diarmuid McCabe 0-2 (two-pointer), Jamie O'Shea 0-1, Barry Dardis 0-1, Conor Lyons 0-1,

ATHY: Shane Jackman; Sean Moore, Michael Spillane, Darren Lawler; Padraic Spillane, Cathal McCarron, James McGrath; Kevin Feely, David Hyland cpt; Brian Maher, Barry Kelly, Conor Doyle; Ronan Kelly, Colm Moran, Niall Kelly. Subs: Mark Hyland for Brian Maher (42 minutes); Ben Purcell for Barry Kelly (49 minutes); Conor Kelly for David Hyland (58 minutes); Kieran Farrell for Colm Mran (58 minutes); Cian Keaveney for Niall Kelly (61 minutes).

SUMMERHILL: Sean Muddiman; Ben Moran, Ronan Ryan cpt., Iarla Hughes; Jack Bannon, Ross Ryan, Jamie O'Shea; Adam McDonnell, Adam Flanagan; Diarmuid McCabe, Kevin Ryan, David Larkin; Conor Frayne, Barry Dardis, Liam Shaw. Subs: John Lavelle for Ben Moran (42 minutes); Conor Lyons for Jack Bannon (43 minutes); Padraig Geraghty for Jamie O'Shea (48 minutes): Sean Dalton for Barry Dardis (55 minutes); Kevin Lyons for Barry Dardis (61 minutes).

REFEREE: Anthony Nolan.