Allenwood give it their all but come up just short in All-Ireland semi-final with St Pat's Cullyhanna

AIB Football All-Ireland Intermediate Club Championship Semi-Final

St Patrick's Cullyhanna 1-11

Allenwood 0-11

The magnificent Allenwood voyage of 2023 finally came to an end at Pairc Tailteann, Navan, on Saturday afternoon when Armagh and Ulster champions, St. Patrick's Cullyhanna defeated the Kildare and Leinster champions in the AIB All-Ireland Intermediate Club semi-final by three points.

It was a close, tight and tense encounter that was in the melting pot right up to the final whistle with St Patrick's probably just about shading it but make no mistake they were made to fight tooth and nail by Noel Mooney's lads who put in a monumental effort that with a bit of luck, which they got little of throughout the game, could have gone their way.

In games such as these, in winter conditions, albeit on an excellent pitch, goals are imperative, practically vital and in this regard it was the Ulster boys who threatened on at least three occasions, and guilt edge chances it has to be said, while only raising one green flag but for some brilliant goalkeeping coupled with over-playing at times, could have been a lot more.
Remarkable the start of each half started with identical moves.

From the throw-in Cullyhanna gained possession and cut open the Allenwood defence with an incisive more that ended with Gary Mackin opting to pass to the unmarked Garvan Duffy, instead of firing to the net but the pass was over-hit, the chance disappeared and the danger averted.

Similarly at the start of the second half, the Cullyhanna boys gained possession with Ross McQuillan powering through the middle before blasting an unstoppable shot past Luke Anderson in the Allenwood goals.
It was the score that proved the difference between the sides.

Following that first-half let off Allenwood took early control, Cormac Denagher opened with a fine point quickly followed by a similar score from Eoin Bagnall to lead 0-2 to no score with five minutes on the clock.

Cullyhanna replied through their Armagh county man, Aidan Nugent after being fouled himself duly popped over the resultant free.

A foul on Johnny Doyle some 40m out saw Eoin Bagnall miss the target but Allenwood were dominating with Mark Delaney making a brilliant dispossession as the Allenwood supporters rose to their defeat in deafening noise.
Allenwood were hit with a big blow when wing forward Aaron Dunne was forced off with a collar bone injury with Colm Moran coming on.

A big blow for The Blues as Dunne has been a regular scorer throughout this campaign while also more than capable for defending deep when required.

A foul on Johnny Doyle, 13 minutes in, saw Eoin Bagnall convert to stretch the lead and a minute later that man Doyle hit one of his trade mark efforts to give his side a three point lead — 0-4 to 0-1 as the Kildare champions were well in control, working extremely hard in both defence and attack.

Little did know at that stage that Allenwood not score for the remainder of the half as Cullyhanna gradually got to grips with the situation.

On 19 minutes the Allenwood defence was prized open once again with Ross McQuillan getting inside and his effort looked certain to find the net but an absolute brilliant save from Luke Anderson denied the county man, the keeper pushing his effort out for a 45.

The resultant 45 was short but gathered by Caolán Reavey who managed to find the posts from an acute angle to reduce the lead to two points.

Some great defending, particularly by Brendan Hanafey had the Kildare supporters roaring their approval but on 23 minutes wing back Barry McConville left just one point between them with a fine effort.

Allenwood were suddenly on the back foot but Johnny Doyle and the aforementioned Hanafey were seen at their best denying their opponents.

Gary Mackin had the sides level on 20 and some eight minutes later a pointed free from Nugent saw Cullyhanna take the lead.
Allenwood had the chance to level with a long range free but Eoin Bagnall's effort drifted left and wide.
Mark Delaney picked up a yellow card, which certainly looked very harsh it has to be said.

Cullyhanna came attacking again and a ball into the danger area saw Luke Anderson gather with confidence and clear his lines as Allenwood came looking for the leveler but a scoring attempt fell short as the half-time whistle arrived with Cullyhanna leading by a point — 0-5 to 0-4 after an intriguing opening half.

While Cullyhanna were certainly looking very dangerous when on the attack opening up the Allenwood defence on a number of occasion in that opening half but it was still all to play for the second half got under on a cold but dry afternoon.

From the throw-in the Ulster boys gained possession, came storming through the middle and this time Ross McQuillan made no mistake with a brilliant finish to the Allenwood net to open a four point lead with less than 30 seconds of the second half gone.

In fairness Allenwood certainly did not buckle and when Johnny Doyle was fouled Cormac Denagher knocked over the resultant free with his left.

Daragh Malone, who was not himself on the day due to a heavy cold throughout the week, still managed to get one of his customary long range points to reduce the deficit to two points with 34 minutes gone.

A foul on Eoin Bagnall saw the resultant free fall s short before Cullyhanna relied with two point from Aidan Nugent and a second from corner back Gavin Duffy to push the lead back out to four points.

A brilliant Eoin Bagnall point reduced the deficit on 39 minutes as Allenwood began to throw everything at a stout-hearted Cullyhanna defence that defended admirably in typical northern fashion.

Then after withstanding that pressure St Patrick's broke away again and hit two points inside two minutes from Ross McQuillan and fully back Sean Connell to push their lead out to five — 1-9 to 0-7.

Eoin Bagnall converted a free before Cullyhanna got through the middle again but this time Shea Hoey elected to fire over rather than test Luke Anderson.

Johnny Doyle fired over a point as his side took control but just not get that much needed goal.
Billy Maher had a chance of a goal, Allenwood's only real goal opportunity, but he failed to gain control of the ball and the chance was gone.

Cormac Denagher reduced the lead; Billy Maher got another to cut the lead back to two but Aidan Nugent fired over a late free as the final whistle arrived Cullyhanna marching on to the All-Final on a final score line of 1-11 to 0-11.

Cullyhanna, Ross McQuillan 1-1, Aidan Nugent 0-4 (3 frees), Caolán Reavey 0-1, Barry McConville 0-1, Gary Mackin 0-1, Sean Connell 0-1, Shea Hoey 0-1.

Allenwood: Eoin Bagnall 0-3 (1 free), Cormac Denagher 0-3 (1 free), Johnny Doyle 0-2, Cormac Denagher 0-1, Daragh Malone 0-1, Billy Maher 0-1.

Cullyhanna: James Carrager; Sean Óg Irwin, Sean Connell, Gavan Dufft; Neil McCreesh, Mchael Murray, Barry McConville; Pearse Casey, Jason Duffy; Caolán Reavey, Shea Hoey, Boss McQuinnan; Gary Mackin, Tony Donnelly, Aidan Nugent. Subs: Kiern McCooey for Barry McConville (56 minutes); Phelim Savage for Gavn Duffy (61 minutes).

Allenwood: Luke Anderson; Fionn Moran, Sean Moran, Brendan Hanafety; Mark Delanety, Daraghg Malone, Ronan Guilfoyle; John Doyle, Rory Moran; Aaron Dunne, Johnnt Byrne, Billy Maher; Cormac Denagher, Eoin Bagnell, Eric Judge. Subs: Colm Moran for Aaron Dunne (10 minutes); Jack O'Brien for Eric Judge (46 minutes); Darren Judge for Colm Moran (58 minutes).

Referee: James Molloy, Galway.