Athenry one step away from joining the senior ranks

Date Published: 26-Sep-2012

Athenry 0-12

Oughterard 0-9

Cian O’Connell at Pearse Stadium

The latest chapter in one of the great untold local sporting stories was scripted on Saturday afternoon as Athenry defied the odds to outfox Oughterard in an interesting County Intermediate Football Championship semi-final replay at Pearse Stadium.

Athenry surprised an Oughterard outfit with a determined display to secure an October 7 decider date following a tight match that was brimful of industry. Under the guidance of Timmy Rabbitt, Athenry have made significant strides climbing the grades, and they can look forward to next month’s clash with ample encouragement because the manner they dealt with Oughterard was impressive.

On paper, few would argue that Oughterard possessed the most talented collection of footballers in the competition, but they failed to deliver on their promise. By the end, Athenry defended deep, dropped men back and soaked up an inevitable late onslaught to secure a merited win.

Ultimately Oughterard were left to reflect on what might have been as Athenry frustrated them throughout an encounter that certainly didn’t lack suspense.

Similar to the first instalment, the opening half was a tale of Oughterard’s polish against Athenry’s pluck. Playing with real defiance and determination, Athenry were gutsy responding to an Oughterard burst with a flurry of their own. It was that kind of game as the action veered from one end to another.

Athenry were rugged and resourceful, while Oughterard – in a brief spell of supremacy – showed what they can do when given time and space.

Though Declan Beirne nudged over a free for the underdogs, Oughterard thundered into the contest and the evidence in the initial 10 minutes suggested they had absorbed lessons from the draw.

Teenager Niall Lee buzzed about the attack craving involvement while Paddy Walshe’s work ethic was also prominent. Those three all rifled over scores for Oughterard, but Athenry remained composed.

At centrefield, Niall Gibbons was solid, while Conor Cannon assumed the play making duties repeatedly presenting himself for ball alongside the effective Emmett Caufield. Ronan O’Reilly (free), Cannon, Caufield, and Dara Glynn drilled points and by the 17th minute Athenry led 0-5 to 0-3. Nerveless Athenry were posing questions of Oughterard’s resolve, Joe Joe Greaney landed a free and then a controversial 20th minute incident added a bit more spice.

Martin Coady got away with a cute little shove on Shane Healy then found Clancy loitering with intent on the edge of the square. A combination of goalkeeper Thomas Dolan and Matthew Monaghan felled Clancy. It was a decision that could have went either way, but referee Noel Dempsey opted to award a penalty. Damien O’Reilly’s effort was saved by Dolan and Athenry survived the scare.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.