Allenwood too strong for disappointing Monasterevan

Allenwood 1-15

Monasterevan 0-6

Allenwood have reached the Intermediate Football Championship final after their dismantling of Monasterevan in Manguard Park.

It was start as you mean to go on for the eventual winners as they kicked the opening three scores of the game in what was less than a blistering start for either side in truth.

Two frees, from Arron Dunne and Eoin Bagnall respectively, and a superb point from perhaps the best player on the pitch on the day in Darragh Malone sent Allenwood 0-3 to no score in the lead after 12 minutes.

Monasterevan would get their first point of the day just before the 20-minute mark and it came from their only point-scorer in this game, Wayne Fitzpatrick.

It would be a stretch to say Fitzpatrick was afforded tons of space or time each time he registered as a score, as he took aim from long-range and found the target on six occasions.

Monasterevan will no doubt be criticised for their lack of attacking output, and rightly so, but Allenwood were also defensively exemplary in this game. A performance that would no doubt serve them well once more if it could be replicated in the final.

An Eoin Bagnall free would be followed quickly by a superb point from the same boot. Bagnall curled over a stunning effort from distance after a sharp Allenwood attacking move. The possession play and sudden increase of pace to finish with a score exemplified the difference between these teams.

Another excellent score from Darragh Malone meant Allenwood led 0-6 to 0-1 with two to go in the opening half.
Monasterevan had sat deep and kept their shape, but failed to put sufficient pressure on the ball in key areas. It was a recipe for disaster that needed to change quickly.

They would respond through Wayne Fitzpatrick who drilled over another great score that seemed to be the only way his side were going to score.

Allenwood would respond as Eoin Bagnall matched Fitzpatrick’s sharpshooting from range with a fine point of his own.
The sole Monasterevan scorer would get two more before the break to send his side trailing by 0-8 to 0-4.

Despite Fitzpatrick’s effort to keep his side in this semi-final, their performance and reliance on their main man was wholly unsustainable for another half.
However poorly they had performed, they trailed by just four points, a far from unassailable lead.

The trailing side would make life even harder for themselves straight after half-time with a short kick-out that went awry.
The ball would be intercepted by Allenwood and Eric Judge rolled the ball into an empty an net to make 1-8 to 0-4 just a minute into the second half.

The goal made a tough task near impossible with the way the losing side had performed to that point.
Allenwood, to their credit, sensed they could put this game away and did over the coming minutes with points from Rory Moran, Eoin Bagnall and Darragh Malone to further extend their lead.

Monasterevan would be reduced to just two points in the entire second half as Allenwood kept their side of the scoreboard ticking over.

Allenwood are now into an IFC final for the first time since 1990 and will take aim at reaching Senior football once again.
For Monasterevan, it is back to the drawing board for 2023 after what was an enormously disappointing semi-final showing. Fans and perhaps squad alike will feel as if they were never close to giving this game all they had.

After his side’s huge semi-final win, Allenwood manager Noel Mooney said, “We knew it was going to be a real battle coming up against Monasterevan, but credit to the lads, they have worked so hard since the Caragh game.

“They (the players) were very unlucky not to go into Division 1, they set the standards, they set where we need to be. It's easy to manage because there is a hunger there and there is a good blend of youth and experience, which is really important, but the most important thing is that it is always about them.”

Mooney and Allenwood will face Castledermot in the 2023 Intermediate Football Championship final.

Scorers: Allenwood, Eoin Bagnall 0-5 (0-2 frees), Eric Judge 1-0, Darragh Malone 0-3, Darren Judge 0-3 (0-1 frees), Arron Dunne 0-1 (0-1 frees), Cormac Denagher 0-1, Rory Moran 0-1, John Doyle 0-1 (0-1 frees).

Monasterevan, Wayne Fitzpatrick 0-6 (0-2 frees).

ALLENWOOD: Luke Anderson; Fionn Moran, Sean Moran, Brendan Hanafey; Mark Delaney, Darragh Malone, Ronan Guilfoyle; John Doyle, Rory Moran; Arron Dunne, Johnny Byrne, Gavin Malone; Cormac Denagher, Eoin Bagnall, Eric Judge. Subs: Cillian Moran for Ronan Guilfoyle (Blood Sub 14 mins), Ronan Guilfoyle for Cillian Moran Blood Sub return (22 mins), Cillian Moran for Mark Delaney (Half-time), Colm Moran for Fionn Moran (49 minutes), Jack O'Brien for Arron Dunne (54 minutes), Alex Lenehan for Cormac Denagher (54 minutes).

MONASTEREVAN: Adam Forde; Gary Morrissey, Eoin Stapleton, Cormac Stapleton; Evan Nash, Michael Donoghue, Cian Harrison; Sean Kavanagh, Conor Lonergan; Ryan Bannon, Paul Maloney, DJ Earley; Wayne Fitzpatrick, Padraig Nash, Charlie Doyle. Subs: Eric Morrissey for Charlie Doyle (Half-time), Adam Kavanagh for Paul Maloney (40 minutes), Tristin Kennedy for Evan Nash (48 minutes), Gary Kelly for Conor Lonergan (54 minutes).

Referee: Fergus Devereux

MAIN MAN
Eoin Bagnall
Allenwood full-forward knocked over some outstanding scores on the day. Bagnall was exceptional from long-range and was often the man to finish off a slick Allenwood move.

TURNING POINT
Allenwood's goal just after half-time was the absolute killer of this game. After a poor first half showing, it was down to the trailing side to show that they meant business in the second half by coming out of the blocks flying. It was the reverse as they conceded a needless goal from a short kickout and it felt like the game was over a minute into the second half.

TALKING POINT
Can Allenwood replicate this performance? The winning side are likely to face a similar to task in having to break down Casteldermot in the final, and if they replicate their scoring and exceptional defending from the weekend, it will take them far.

WHAT NOW?
Allenwood will face Castledermot in the 2023 Intermediate Football Championship final.