All-Ireland dream ends for Athy
Athy players and coaches following the defeat to Seapoint at St Michael's College, Dublin.
Athy travelled to Dublin on Saturday afternoon for arguably the biggest game in the club’s history when they faced Seapoint in the Energia All-Ireland Junior Cup semi-finals. This was as far as as the Kildare club’s journey lasted, however, as Seapoint got out in front early, with a 17-0 deficit at half time too much for Athy to overcome.
A last-minute change of location and a kick-off time brought forward by half an hour scuppered Athy’s preparation for the game. The grass pitch at Seapoint’s home venue of Kilbogget Park, Killiney, failed a late pitch inspection, forcing the game to be moved to the AstroTurf pitch at St Michael’s College in the heart of Dublin 4. The all-weather surface nullified Athy’s biggest weapon this season, their scrum, and played right into the hands of Seapoint’s impressive outside backs.
Reigning Towns Cup champions, Athy, came into the match on the back of a three-game winning streak that included a win over Suttonians in the quarter-finals before bonus-point victories over Wexford and Tullow in the league. Seapoint sit just one place above Athy in Division 1A of the Leinster League, but came into the game on the back of their third defeat of the season.
Despite the interruptions it was Athy who started brighter; however, it was a penalty from Seapoint full back Cormac Hurley that opened the scoring in the 12th minute. The hosts built up a head of steam after that and crossed for the first try of the game ten minutes later finished off by winger Matthew Jungmann. Hurley added the extras to make it 10-0.
And it was 17-0 on the 30-minute mark when Seapoint found a whole in the Athy defence allowing lock Tom Chadwick to go in for a second try, with Hurley again adding the extras. Athy had the better of the closing stages and went close to a try on two occasions only to be turned over just metres from the Seapoint try-line as it ended 17-0 at half time.
Athy were on the front foot again after the restart, changing the point of attack time and again before eventually putting the ball through the hands as winger Cathal Fennessy crossed over in the corner to complete a sensational team try in the 44th minute.
Seapoint almost struck back immediately but this time it was Athy who turned the ball over on their own line. But the Dubliners did get over for a third try in the 55th minutes when flanker and captain Donal McMahon peeled off the back of a five-metre scrum and barged across the whitewash.
The Kildare club produced a remarkable response straight from the restart, however, with Josh Miller dancing through a gap to touch down under the posts before converting the try himself.
At 22-12 and with Athy in the ascendancy it was game on. But a mazing run from deep from Oisin McKenna saw Seapoint go coast to coast where McMahon released Jungmann who crossed in the far corner to put 15 points between the sides with 15 minutes remaining.
Athy went direct after that as their pack tried to power over, but a stout Seapoint defence held firm before clearing their lines after Athy had been held up over the line. The visitors kicked to the corner in search of a late score to close the gap, but Seapoint stole the lineout and went the length of the pitch before Oisin McKenna dived over in the corner for his side’s fifth try.
There was still time for a consolation try for Athy when Sean Donohoe powered over the line, with Miller’s conversion bringing the game to a close. Seapoint now have an All-Ireland final to look forward to in January when they face Down club, Dromore, who beat Creggs of Galway in the other semi-final.
Cormac Hurley (1 pen, 2 cons); Oisin McKenna (1 try), Gareth Hughes, Matt McKenna, Matthew Jungmann (2 trie); Conor Byrne, Sam O’Donovan; Gordon Britchfield, Hugh Bourke, Conor Eivers; Hugh Ross, Tom Chadwick (1 try); David Murphy, Donal McMahon (1 try), Daniel O’Donovan.
Sean Finn, Dylan Kirara, Callum Kavanagh, Rory Balmaine, Dave O’Reilly, James Brindley, James Newman.
Culann Carbery; Cathal Fennessy (1 try), Aidan Henry, Tom Sheedy, Hayden Casey-Gray; Craig Miller, Eoin Farrell; Karol Donohoe, Matthew Henry, Conan Dunne; Kevin Downey, Jimmy O’Mara; Shane Horgan, Jack Henry, Patrick Julian.
Chris Larne, Sean Donohoe (1 try), Ruairi Scully, Lochlann Kelleher, Jason O’Toole, Sean Nolan, Josh Miller (1 try, 2 cons), Daniel Henry.
