Carbury maintain SFC record and send Allenwood into another relegation decider

Carbury can breath a major sigh of relief following an impressive display against Allenwood in the Joe Mallon Motors SFC Relegation semi-final at a bitterly cold, but dry, night at Manguard Park, Hawkfield on Friday.

It was county man, Tommy Gill, who got the ball rolling for Andrew Dermody’s side coming forward within twenty seconds of the throw-in to split the posts.

Aaron O’Neill, wearing no. 14 but operating around the middle, set up Eoin Cully who got his first point of the evening.

Cully has been one of the most impressive and consistent forwards in this season's championship and he showed all his class and pace once again here.

Carbury then got an early breakthrough when Evan Boyle emerged from a pack to find the Carbury net and make it 1-2 to 0-0.

The Blues opened their account on eight minutes when Eoin Bagnall fired over a two-pointer free, Aaron Dunne added a point and Mark Murnaghan’s side were back in the game.

Cully was soon in again but this time his effort was blocked by a defender but fell to Ben Kearney who fired over, he added another soon after before Eoin Cully hit two on the trot, the second a free that was brought forward for ‘chatting’ and Carbury now led 1-6 to 0-3 with 22 minutes on the board.

It was looking somewhat grim for Allenwood at that stage but in fairness they came storming back in the last five minutes before half time, holding their opponents scoreless but adding an impressive five points.

Eoghan Bagnall pointed two frees while Darragh Malone linked up with Johnny Byrne and the dual star fired over and then on thirty minutes a breach by Carbury saw Bagnall bring the ball out to the arc before firing over the leave the half-time score reading Carbury 1-6 Allenwood 0-8.

Little did anyone know what would unfold on the resumption.

Whatever Andy Dermondy told his charges at the break certainly had a major effect as they came out flying right from the restart with that man, Tommy Gill, again getting the opening point of this half, again inside a minute

Eoin Cully quickly added a free before a fine move involving Aaron O’Neill, Cully, O’Neill again ended with Oisin Milmoe splitting the posts.

Seven minutes into the second half and the game was all but over when Aaron O’Neill set up Eoin Cully who made no mistake from close range to make it 2-9 to 0-8 with Allenwood yet to score in the second half.

A breach by Allenwood saw Cully fire over, no need to bring it outside the arc; Tommy Gill came forward again to raise his third white flat of the evening before a lovely and impressive move saw the texture of Eoin Cully’s being tested, free awarded, as the no. 11 fired over and Carbury now led 2-12 to 0-8, and still Allenwood had not raised a flag of any hue in the second half with 46 gone.

It was not until the 51st minute that The Blues finally registered a score, an Eoin Bagnall free, they did not score again, in fact we had just one more point and that came from man-of-the match Eoin Cully who converted a free as the final whistle arrived Carbury winning 2-13 to 0-9.

Big relief for Carbury but Allenwood will have to show major improvement if they are to avoid relegation.

Scorers, Carbury: Eoin Cully 1-7 (5 frees), Evan Boyle 1-0, Tommy Gill 0-3, Ben Kearney 0-2, Oisin Milmoe 0-1,

Allenwood: Eoin Bagnall 0-7 (2 two-pointer frees, 3 frees), Aaron Dunne 0-1, Johnny Byrne 0-1,

CARBURY: Declan Conroy; Dean Cummins, Willy Groome, Brian Minmoe; Tommy Gill, Oisin Milmoe, Paul Fleming; Conor Denehan, Mark Cully; Evan Boyle, Eoin Cully, Ben Kearney; Conor Gallagherl, Aaron O’Neill, Jack Smyth. Subs: James Carey for Aaron O’Neill (52 minutes); JP Gill for Oisin Milmoe (56 minutes); Brain O’Flaherty for Conor Gallagher (59 minutes); Jack Cully for Conor Denehan (62 minutes); Justin Reilly for Jack Smyth (62 minutes).

ALLENWOOD: Stephen Carey; Mark Delaney, Sean Moran, Ronan Guilfoyle; Gavin Malone, Darragh Malone cpt., Jamie Gartland; John Dee, Alex Lenehan; Brendan Hanafey, Sean Dunne; Aaron Dunne, Johnny Byrne, Callum O’Reilly. Subs: Rory Moran for Alex Lenehan (24 minutes); Joey Cunningham for Sean Dunne (41 minutes); Eric Judge for Aaron Dunne (49 minutes); Mark Byrne for Clllum O’Reilly (56 minutes).

REFEREE: Kieran Harris.