Allenwood pull it out of the Bag
Allenwood's Johnny Byrne kicked an excellent first half point in the win over Kilcock
Eoin Bagnall’s superb point in the fifth minute of injury time made it a happy return to senior ranks for Intermediate champions Allenwood on Saturday lunch time as they edged out Kilcock at Manguard Park in the Preliminary Round of the Joe Mallon Motors Senior Football Championship.
It means they are already secure in the knowledge they will be playing senior football again next year as they go into Monday’s draw for the senior section.
Kilcock got off to a flier with the opening three points of the game. Full-back Johnny O’Sullivan came forward in the second minute to open the scoring from 30 metres and that was followed by Danny Maguire’s first score.
Mark Gibbons converted a 20-metre free after nine minutes before Allenwood got back into the game with a 10th minute penalty from – who else – Johnny Doyle, starting his 29th championship campaign for the club.
Arron Dunne was fouled for the spot kick after taking possession from Johnny Byrne’s high ball and although he struck the upright with a goal attempt, Niall Colgan pulled it back for the foul. Doyle slotted low to Fionn Talbot’s left with minimal fuss.
The sides shared three further points each before half-time with Maguire and two of the Gibbons, Mark and Jason on target for a Kilcock side starting without star man Shane Farrell.
Joey Cunningham got on the scoresheet with two points from Allenwood, bookending a fine, booming effort from Byrne, back from injury. Half-Time: Allenwood 1-3 Kilcock 0-6.
The second half ebbed and flowed and they were level heading into the final ten minutes after a monstrous 50-metre free from Keith Farrell, brother of Shane, made it 0-9 to 1-6.
Cormac Divilly then gave Kilcock the lead but Allenwood hit back with three in a row with two of those from the talented Cunningham.
In injury time, Kilcock hit back to level matters, though. A powerful run from Farrell set up Ciaran Murray for a shot which Luke Anderson deftly tipped over and when Rory Moran was deemed, perhaps harshly, to have overcarried and the resultant free was brought forward, Maguire’s free crept just inside the post.
That seemed to signal extra-time but Kilcock left far too much room in their defence in front of Bagnall and when Gavin Malone delivered the ball in, the former county under-20 star turned and shot over from 35 metres to secure the win.
