"You can't go on forever" - Doyle bows out after Allenwood's exit from Championship
Johnny Doyle in action during this evening's game against Athy Photo: Sean Brilly
Allenwood and Kildare legend Johnny Doyle pulled down the curtain on his stellar 29-year senior career with a typical Johnny Doyle performance at the ripe old age of 46.
Doyle confirmed to the Kildare Nationalist on the way into the dressing room that “That’s it, that’s me done,” after his three point haul proved insufficient to derail favourites Athy, despite a battling second half performance from his team.
It was a strange affair in Group B of the Joe Mallon Motors Senior Football Championship at Manguard Park in failing light on Saturday evening. It had the feel of a challenge game for long periods with Athy taking a 1-5 to 0-1 half-time lead.
An early second half comeback from Allenwood threatened to upset the odds but four goals in thirteen minutes midway through the second half saw an Athy team missing Kevin Feely home with plenty to spare despite worryingly conceding 1-12 in the second half.
It was a dour enough first half played in showery, blustery weather with Athy taking their time to exert their expected dominance.
A couple of outstanding left-footed points from John Moran were the highlight of the opening twenty minutes as they moved into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead, the only Allenwood point of the half coming from a trademark Doyle sidestep and shot from 35 metres after eight minutes.
Doyle threw himself into the game with typical abandon, spending a minute on the sidelines receiving attention after one bruising encounter, but he was fighting an uphill battle with Athy dominating possession.
On 24 minutes they made the crucial breakthrough. Brian Maher found Colm Moran in space to the left of the goal and his fist pass to the back post was palmed to the net by Ben Purcell.
Further points from elegant midfielder Ryan Bowden and Colm Moran gave Athy a 1-5 to one point half-time advantage.
Allenwood were a team transformed after the break, scoring six points on the trot in as many minutes, Doyle getting his second score from a 35-metre free he earned himself.
But Athy hit back on 37 minutes when Johnny Byrne was caught in possession and James McGrath put James Eaton through to slot low to the net.
That made it 2-5 to 0-6 and although Doyle scored a brilliant third point on the run down the left, they conceded two more quickfire goals to the two Morans, John and Colm.
Doyle was lining up a long range free when his number went up as he exited the field for what appears to be the final time on 46 minutes.
Allenwood kept plugging away, with Eoin Bagnall ending up on six second half points, and Mark Byrne scored a well taken goal in the 50th minute but Athy replied immediately with their fifth goal when substitute Conor Doyle finished off another fine passing movement.
Athy go through and Allenwood go out, but there was no shame for the departing Doyle, surely the greatest player to don the light blue jersey.
James Roycroft; Michael Spillane, Cathal McCarron, Darren Lawler; James McGrath, Padraic Spillane, Colm Moran 1-1; Ryan Bowden 0-1, Pascal Connell; Barry Kelly, John Moran 1-4, Brian Maher; Niall Kelly 0-1 (f), Ben Purcell 1-0, James Eaton 1-1. SUBS: Conor Doyle 1-0 for Bowden 35, Seán Moore for N Kelly 46, Liam McGovern 0-1 (f) for B Kelly 46, Cian Keaveney 0-1 for Purcell 50, Seán Bride for Connell 50.
Luke Anderson; Fionn Moran, Seán Moran, Cillian Moran; Mark Byrne 1-1, Ronan Guilfoyle, Mark Delaney; John Doyle 0-3 (1f), Rory Moran; Cormac Denagher 0-1, Johnny Byrne 0-2, Arron Dunne; Brendan Hanafey, Eoin Bagnall 0-6 (3fs,1m), Joey Cunningham. SUBS: James Moore for John Doyle (temp 7-8) and for Dunne 24, Billy Maher for Doyle 46, Gavin Malone for Delaney 46, Colm Moran for Denagher 47, Éanna O’Neill for F Moran 55.
Ken Doyle
