Athy 1-8 Edenderry 1-5:ATHY WERE nowhere near their best, but they still had too much firepower for an Edenderry team that showed plenty of grit but not enough attacking intent.

Athy were utterly dominant around the middle third of the Newbridge field. Yet, because they were so wasteful in attack, they actually trailed at half-time by 1-2 to 0-2.

“We were very rusty after a five-week lay-off” said manager, Mark Brophy. “It was our first real game as a team in five weeks.”

Five points in 10 minutes gave them a two-point lead and it was the younger brigade that led the way. Kevin Feely and Tony Gibbons were magnificent from start to finish, but Keith McGuinness goaled in the 16th minute after Edenderry won their first breaking ball in midfield.

That was enough to put them ahead, but Feely pointed 10 seconds after the restart, Daroch Mulhall followed up a minute later, Cian Reynolds finally slotted a free and Paddy Dunne launched two excellent scores.

When Reynolds notched his second point with 10 minutes remaining, Edenderry quickly scored three points in four minutes, from Stephen Guing, Derek Kelly and McGuinness, to level the scores on 55 minutes.

But substitute Danny O’Keeffe struck late to the Edenderry net to clinch the win for Athy.

ATHY: J Roycroft; B Kinahan, D Hyland, J Kinahan; R Bell, E Delahunt, E Kennedy; P Dunne (0-2), K Feely (0-1); T Gibbons, C Reynolds (0-2, frees), L McGovern; D Mulhall (0-2), K Brophy (0-1), J Eaton. Subs: D Holligan for J Kinihan (ht), D O’Keeffe (1-0) for Mulhall (50 mins), A Kelly for Brophy (56 mins), T Dunne for Delahunt (58 mins).

EDENDERRY: B Quinlan; S Pender, D Meleady, D Hanlon; C Byrne, J Hurst, W Mooney; S Guing (0-1), R Dalton; M Keogh, B Malone, K McGuinness (1-2); M Young, S Cullen (0-1), D Kelly (0-1). Subs: S Doyle for Keogh (43 mins), C Hurley for Malone (45 mins), D Nolan for Young (51 mins), C McNamara for Mooney (60 mins).

Referee: G McCormack (Dublin).