Allenwood find an extra gear to end St Malachy's run

Allenwood 1-17, St Malachy's 1-14 (After extra-time)

Westmeath champions St Malachy’s bowed out of the Leinster Intermediate Football Championship when they suffered a three-point defeat against Allenwood, at a wintry Manguard Park, Hawkfield on Saturday.

Substitute Jack O’Brien swooped for a crucial goal in the first period of extra-time while wily campaigner Johnny Doyle kicked four crucial points from distance as the Kildare champions booked their place in the semi-final.

Conditions at the Kildare GAA centre of excellence were certainly very testing as the rain came down in the first half and players had to contend with a testing breeze and soft sod. Allenwood played with the aid of the breeze in the first half and led by just a point at the break, 0-5 to 0-4, as St Malachy’s produced a gritty effort.

The Kildare winners seemed set for victory in normal time when they led by 0-12 to 0-9 in injury-time against 14-man St Malachy's, but a fisted goal by Naoise McKenna earned Kenny McKinley’s charges a reprieve and the contest headed for extra-time. Once more Allenwood took command and led by 1-14 to 1-12 at the midway stage before winning the second period also to secure their place in the semi-final.

St Malachy’s came into the game minus the services of Westmeath footballer David Lynch who was unavailable for selection and that was certainly a factor in their demise as they missed a number of scoring opportunities, both from play and frees in the first half. The dismissal of Aonghus Clarke on a black card at the end of normal time was also a big moment as it ruled the talented dual star out of extra-time. Clarke had earlier picked up a yellow card so St Malachy's finished normal time a man down: while they were back to 15 for extra-time, they were minus Clarke's influence.

Allenwood, who trailed just once in the entire match, took the lead when impressive full forward Eoin Bagnall slotted over a free in the sixth minute and Billy Maher doubled their advantage, following Johnny Byrne’s pass.

St Malachy’s then shot three unanswered points to assume control. The first came after 10 minutes when Aonghus Clarke’s delivery broke in the danger area and Darren Ruane shot over.

Shane Corcoran added their second minor after a lovely build-up, while Conor Murphy’s delivery led to a Niall O’Brien point on 13 minutes.

However, a hat-trick of Allenwood points from Bagnall (all frees) gave them a 0-5 to 0-3 lead. The scores came after both Shane Corcoran and Niall O’Brien were denied by a double save from ‘keeper Luke Anderson. In added time, a Ruane free reduced the leeway and just a point separated the teams at the break.

INSPIRATIONAL

On the resumption, Allenwood had a goal chance when Billy Maher set up Bagnall, who blazed a shot over via the crossbar. Alan Mangan was called on to make a great save to deny Arron Dunne a goal in the fourth minute and at the other end, Conor Murphy was denied by Anderson (after Ruane’s pass put him through).

A Mangan free followed by a fine point from Niall O’Brien (after Shane Clavin’s pass) had the sides level by the 44th minute, but Allenwood re-established a two-point lead when Bagnall converted a free and centre back Darragh Malone shot a wonderful point from distance. St Malachy’s showed spirit and a pointed free from Ruane left them just a point adrift (0-8 to 0-7) with 10 minutes remaining. After Cormac Denagher shot over following Gavin Malone's pass, points from Ruane and Mangan (both frees) had the Castletown Geoghegan men level (0-9 apiece) with four minutes remaining.

Once more Allenwood found an extra gear and three unanswered points from Darren Judge (free) and the inspirational Johnny Doyle (who kicked a fine point from 40 metres before converting a ‘45’) had them three clear in added time. The Westmeath winners were dealt a blow when Aonghus Clarke picked up a black card, followed by a red, and was dismissed, ruling him out of any further part in the contest.

Just when all seemed lost, St Malachy’s attacked and Clavin’s angled delivery into a crowded square was fisted to the net by McKenna. That dramatic goal set up extra-time in Hawkfield.

Allenwood got the better start once more as Bagnall shot over, but a fine point from Morgan Gavigan (following a powerful run from deep) left it level. Then came a decisive moment as Jack O’Brien netted, after Rory Moran’s through ball. The home side went four clear when Doyle converted a free from distance, off the turf.

Two late points gave St Malachy’s renewed hope: Mangan converted a free and Ruane blasted over from a tight angle, leaving it nicely poised at the break.

Into the second period, and once more Allenwood went three clear courtesy of Doyle’s well struck ‘45’.

A fine point from Neal Kirby left just two points between the teams with three minutes remaining. Judge converted a free, but Shane Corcoran nearly found the net when he blasted over a first-time shot in the final minute. A Bagnall free eased Allenwood nerves as Malachy's brave effort fell short.

Scorers – Allenwood: E Bagnall 0-9 (7f), J Doyle 0-4 (2f; 1 ‘45’), J O’Brien 1-0, D Judge 0-2 (2f), D Malone and C Denagher 0-1 each.

St Malachy’s: D Ruane 0-5 (3f), N McKenna 1-0, A Mangan 0-3 (3f), N O’Brien and S Corcoran 0-2 each, M Gavigan and N Kirby 0-1 each.

Allenwood: Luke Anderson; Fionn Moran, Sean Moran, Brendan Hanafey; Gavin Malone, Darragh Malone, Ronan Guilfoyle; John Doyle, Rory Moran; Arron Dunne, Johnny Byrne, Billy Maher; Cormac Denagher, Eoin Bagnall, Eric Judge. Subs: Cillian Moran for F Moran (inj., 13), Darren Judge for Maher (54), Jack O’Brien for Dunne (61), A Dunne for Guilfoyle (h-t, ET), Oran O’Sullivan for G Malone (13, ET), Colm Moran for A Dunne (13, ET).

St Malachy’s: Alan Mangan; Eoin Kiernan, Naoise McKenna, Aaron Glennon; Aonghus Clarke, Peter Murphy, Shane Clavin; Johnny Bermingham, Conor Murphy; Morgan Gavigan, Shane Corcoran, David Maloney; Darren Ruane, Niall O’Brien, Jack Gallagher. Subs: Odhrán Gavigan for Glennon (40), Neal Kirby for Gallagher (40), Paul O’Sullivan for C Murphy (18, ET), Conall Fagan for Bermingham (19, ET).

Ref: David Hickey (Carlow).

Examiner's Eye on the game

Man of the match

Eoin Bagnall (Allenwood): The classy full forward got nine points in the difficult conditions and that was crucial. Johnny Doyle, Darragh Malone and Eric Judge made big contributions, as did ‘keeper Luke Anderson.

Score of the match

Centre back Darragh Malone kicked a wonderful point to put the Allenwood men 0-8 to 0-6 clear after 46 minutes. Morgan Gavigan’s fine solo point in the sixth minute of extra-time is worthy of an honourable mention.

Match officials

Referee David Hickey was good, overall, and there was no controversy, but some frees for ‘steps’ looked debatable. Ironically, when Cormac Denagher scored Allenwood’s ninth point in normal time, Brendan Hanafey clearly over-carried the ball in the build-up. A ‘45’ for Allenwood in the closing stages of normal time (which Johnny Doyle pointed) seemed quite contentious.

Key moments

St Malachy’s were denied a goal when Allenwood ‘keeper Luke Anderson produced a fine double save from Shane Corcoran and Niall O’Brien in the 15th minute. The resulting ‘45’ was sent wide by Morgan Gavigan.

Jack O’Brien’s extra-time goal was a massive score and it enabled the Kildare side to establish a four-point cushion.