Kilcock hold off late Allenwood comeback to retain senior status

Kilcock retained their Joe Mallon Motors SFC status for 2027 following a three point win over Allenwood at Manguard Park, Hawkfield, on Saturday evening.

Allenwood will now operate in the National Electrical Wholesalers IFC come next season.

It was a game that Kilcock looked to have well in control but in fairness Allenwood came late, cut the lead back to three but that was as close as they got as Declan Gibbons’ side deservedly held on for the vital win.

Kilcock got off to a cracking start when corner back Eogan Conroy got on the end of a long ball in, turned and found the net with just three minutes on the clock.

Andy Dalton extended the lead with a fine point, pushed over by Allenwood keeper StephenCarey as Kilcock dominated the early stages.

It was ten minutes before Allenwood opened their account, Eoin Bagnall pointing, however Kilcock replied with four quick points from Shane Farrell (two-pointer), Andy Dalton and Keith Farrell.

Things were not looking good for Mark Murnaghan’s side and a few minutes later Keith Farrell, with a goal chance, elected to punch over.

As Allenwood are inclined to do, they suddenly came with a burst adding points from Eoin Bagnall (free), Joey Cunningjam and Darragh Malone to cut the lead back to five points with 24 minutes gone.

However Kilcock replied with an excellent two-pointer from Mark Gibbons and a 45 from Shane Farrell.

Just on the whistle Eoin Bagnall converted a close-in free to leave the half-time score reading Kilcock 1-9 Allenwood 0-6.

A penalty in the early stage of the second half was a big call and Shane Farrel made no mistake and when Danny Byrne added a free Kilcock now led 2-10 to 0-6 with 37 on the clock.

The next two points were shared before Allenwood hit three points on the trot and while Eoin Bagnall nailed a late two-pointner to leave three in it that was enough to see the boys in green and gold win and retain their senior status.

Final score: Kilcock 2-11 Allenwood 0-14.

Scorers, Kilcock: Shane Farrell 1-4 (penalty, 1 two-pointer, 45, 1 free), Eoghan Conroy 1-0, Keith Farrell 0-2, Mark Gibbons 0-2, Adam Doyle 0-1, Andy Dalton 0-1, Danny Byrne 0-1 (free).

Allenwood: Eoin Bagnall 0-8 (2 two-pointer frees, 1 free), Joey Cunningham 0-3, Darragh Malone 0-2, Johnny Byrne 0-1.

ALLENWOOD: Stephen Carey; Fionn Moran, Sean Moran, Ronan Guilfole; Gavin Malone, Darragh Malone cpt., Jamie Garland; John Dee, Sean Dunne; Brendan Hanafey, Joey Cunningham, Rory Moran; Eoin Bagnall, Johnny Byrne, Cormac Denagher. Subs: Mark Byrne for Jamie Gartland (27 minutes); Aaron Dunne for Sean Dunne (38 minutes); Callum O’Reilly for Gavin Malone (40 minutes); Eric Judge for Cormac Denagher (51 minutes);

KILCOCK: Fionn Talbot; Eoghan Conroy, Johnny O’Sullivan, Austin Tighe; Finn Dowling, Jason Gibbons, Keith Farrell; Brendan Gibbons, Mark Gibbons; Danny Byrne, Shane Farrell, Adam Doyle; Danny Maguire, Andy Dalton, Cormac Divilly. Subs: Chris McCarthy for Austin Tighe (32 minutes); Shane O’Rourke for Andy Dalton (35 minutes); Michael Stokes for Danny Magire (57 minutes); Hugh Dowling for Shane Farrell (60 minutes).

REFEREE: Conor Daly.