Kildare SFC: Athy edge out Sarsfields in a cracker

Athy booked their place in the Kildare SFC semi-final and a meeting with Naas, following a one point win over Sarsfields in a pulsating game at Cedral St Conleth's Park, this afternoon.

Sarsfields fought back from a six point deficit to level on 57 minutes, with Calum Boltin finding the Athy net.

Niall Kelly and Ben Loakman shared points before Sarfields were caught in breach of the 4x3 rule and Niall Kelly tapped over the winner.

Athy, playing with the breeze, led at the break with two first half goals, the first from Niall Kelly after Athy gained a turn-over around the middle, and the second a long-range two-pointer free attempt that seemed to go all the way to the net along with two two-pointers from David Hyland and one from Kevin Feely.

Sarsfields who lost Ben McCormack to a hamstring injury after just ten minutes, got back to within two points in the 25 minute but were then hit with that David Hyland two-pointer and that somewhat fortuitious goal from Niall Kelly to leave the half-time score reading Athy 2-6 Sarsfields 0-6.

And then in dramatic half as Sarsfields fought back with Shea Ryan in brilliant form got back into it with a goal from Calum Bolton, the rest is history, absolute heartbreak for Sarsfields but for Athy, a great day and now an SFC final to look forward to two weeks time.

Final score: Athy 2-13 Sarsfields 2-12.

Scorers: Athy, Niall Kelly 2-2 (1 free), David Hyland 0-4 (2 two-pointers), Kevin Feely 0-4 (1 two-pointer), Colm Morlan 0-2, Brian Maher 0-1, Ronan Kelly 0-1.

Sarsfields, Callum Bolton 1-2, Barry Coffey 0-3 (3 frees), Cian Costigan 1-0, Shea Ryan 0-2, Ben McCormack 0-1, David Higgins 0-1, Ryan Kerney 0-1, Daragh Ryan 0-1, Karl Hartley 0-1, Ben Loakman 0-1.

ATHY: Shane Jackman; Sean Moore, Padraig Spillane, Michael Spillane; Brian Maher, Cathal McCarron, Mark Hyland; Kevin Feely, David Hyland; Colm Moran, Barry Kelly, Conor Doyle; Darren Lawler, Ben Purcell, Niall Kelly. Subs: Ronan Kelly for Sean Moore (half-time); Sean bride ford Mark Hyland (44 minutes); Cian Keaveney for Ben Purcell (54 minutes).

SARSFIELDS: Marc Courtney Byrne; Cian Byrne, Tom Aspell, Alan Scully; Ethan Mountaine, Daragh Ryan, David Higgins; Tadhg Hoey, Shea Ryan; Cian Costigan, Ryan Kearney, Callum Bolton; Barry Coffey, Karl Hartley, Ben McCormack. Subs: Conor O'Donovan for Ben McCormack (10 minutes); Ben Loakman for Cian Byrne (36 minutes); Matty Byrne for Tadhg Hoey (46 minutes); Harry Redmond for Conor O'Donovan (54 minutes); Daragh Conlon for Ethan Mountaine (61 minutes).

REFEREE: Paddy McDermott.