Doyle rescues Allenwood as they see off Confey to save their Senior status

Going into this evening’s Joe Mallon Motors Senior Football Championship Relegation Final, Allenwood needed a hero on the back of losing 15 successive games this year, was there ever any doubt that Johnny Doyle would be the man to step forward?

With an increasingly tense final against Confey delicately poised at 0-10 each with 15 minutes to play, Doyle took the game by the scruff of the neck and kicked an inspirational two pointer.

The 47-year-old, who made his Championship debut for Allenwood in 1996, wasn’t finished there though. In the 52nd minute, Darragh Malone, who flew back from Australia on Wednesday to play in this game and will return Down Under tomorrow, played the ball into the Confey square and went it broke loose Doyle was there to smash home the rebound.

Is there anything Johnny Doyle can't do 😱

Johnny Doyle scores a goal for @allenwood_gfc to put them one step closer to keeping their senior football status

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The game eventually finished 1-16 to 0-13, meaning that Confey will play in the Intermediate Football Championship next season for the first time since 2011.

Doyle’s part in saving Allenwood’s senior status writes the latest chapter in his storybook playing career. That story looked over when he announced his retirement at the end of last season but after Allenwood lost all 11 Division 1 league games this year, his club needed him for Championship and Doyle wasn’t going to turn down that call.

His first game back ended with him in Tallaght Hospital after he picked up a shoulder injury in the preliminary round against Clogherinkoe but he quickly returned to fitness and when his club needed him most, Doyle once again delivered as he has done so often in the past.