O'Brien winner secures Allenwood IFC title

Allenwood 0-11

Castledermot 1-7

Allenwood were crowned Intermediate Football Champions following a last-minute winner from substitute Jack O’Brien that decided their game against Castledermot. The eternal Johnny Doyle collected Man of the Match as Castledermot suffered a second IFC final defeat in as many years.

The tense and tight affair to that point set this final up for a grandstand finish in the closing minutes. Just two minutes from time, Allenwood took the lead as Johnny Doyle produced a moment of magic from long range. Just as it looked like his side were struggling to find a gap against a stern Castledermot defence, the 45 year-old took aim at goal and cut across the ball perfectly to send it sailing over the ball from 40m out.

It was in theory the picture perfect ending for this Allenwood story for an outstanding and unlikely Championship win. But it was not to be, yet. Much to the dismay of the defending side, Castledermot earned themselves a free right in front of the posts as David Keating looked to blast his way through on goal. His brother, Gavin, would convert the resulting set-piece as the clock hit 62 minutes and the midway point of additional time.

Allenwood pushed on as Luke Anderson found Johnny Doyle in the middle of the field from the resulting kickout and once again they were back to the unenviable task of breaking Castledermot down. The ball was sent into substitute Jack O’Brien who was tightly marked and looked certain to recycle possession in this crucial phase. O’Brien, who had only entered the field two minutes prior, sharply spun his man and coolly slotted the ball between the posts to give his side the lead with just a minute to go. A moment of bravery and class worthy of winning any final.

Castledermot would get a chance to level it up, once again from the boot of Gavin Keating. Time was up, Keating knew this was likely the last kick of the game and it was undoubtedly a much tougher task than the one he had drawn his side level with a couple of minutes ago as he took aim just inside the 45m line.

Keating took a breath as he prepared for the free-kick of his life and heartbreakingly for the man in question he saw his effort head for the posts but drop agonisingly short. A tough moment for a fine player, but Castledermot would find any game without Gavin Keating presence a tall order as he has had another stellar year for his club. And a strong final too as he kicked five of his side's seven points on the day.

Allenwood cleared the ball in a scramble as Henry Barrett brought an end to proceedings and any concerns of a different feel for a final down in Carlow were washed away as Netwatch Cullen Park erupted in celebration at the conclusion of a footballing fairytale story.

Allenwood took this game by the scruff, were clawed back and battled to the big finish all in the space of 60 or so minutes. A team that lost two games this Championship, and one to their final opponents within those, were crowned unlikely yet deserving Champions.

Allenwood started this game quickly as they took a 0-4 to no score lead past the quarter of an hour mark. Darragh Malone, who had set the field alight in their semi-final clash with Monasterevan, picked up where he left off as he curled over the opening score of the game with an excellent effort.

It would be set-pieces from then on as Eoin Bagnall tapped over from close range. The next two frees would be in classic Johnny Doyle style as he placed the ball on the ground from long range and sent over two superb points in as many minutes.

Castledermot had started terribly, they were creating chances but hit three wides and dropped two short from scorable range in the opening 15 minutes. They got their first score in the 19th minute through Gavin Keating and that appeared to be all they needed to settle into the game.

The Keatings would lead the charge back as one from each of the brothers brought their side back to within a point. The tide was turning and an Allenwood point from Arron Dunne in response was hugely welcomed when it came.

Despite the gap closing, the Castledermot finishing had not been up to scratch to that point. Enter Emmet O’Keefe, after 2-3 in the semi-final, the corner-forward fired his team into the lead for the first time in this game as he raised the only green flag of the day. O’Keefe received possession and slipped in doing so, somehow the corner-forward recovered to get his shot away and found the back of the net to make 1-3 to 0-5.

O’Keefe wasn’t done there as he scored again from the resulting kickout. Allenwood were struggling from their own restarts in the opening half and this time were punished by O'Keefe who took his chance again, but this time above the crossbar.

Eric Judge would respond for Allenwood with a superb mark, but Castledermot, after not scoring for nearly 20 minutes, went in at half-time leading by a point.

After a quiet opening by his own standards, Eoin Bagnall knocked over two points to give his side the lead. In between the Bagnall scores, Castledermot’s Brian Nolan received a black card for a cynical foul.

There would be just one more score in the time before Nolan returned, a Gavin Keating free that drew the sides level. Much to the wing-backs delight I'm sure, he returned the field with his side no worse off than when he departed at 1-5 to 0-8

Eoin Bagnall would once put his side in front as he used his change of pace to earn himself the space to take aim and converted with aplomb.

Gavin Keating would draw Castledermot level, as he often did, in the 54th minute before the Johnny Doyle wonder strike two minutes from time that ignited the closing stages. It wouldn’t be Keating’s last leveller, but Castledermot ran out of the parity being given to them by their free-taker right at the end.

It ended with the aforementioned Jack O’Brien winner and rapturous celebrations following an Intermediate Championship win like no other.

Allenwood were crowned Champions after making it out of what was the perceived IFC 'Group of Death' with Leixlip, Castledermot and Sallins. Allenwood only beat Leixlip of the three to progress.

They have seemed to heading out at several points in the Championship but there was simply no getting rid of them. Their game against Caragh that was sent to extra-time by a Johnny Doyle stunner. A moment of true class by a club and county legend that gained national attention in its significance and quality.

In truth, despite the Intermediate Championship final preceding the biggest game in Kildare football with the senior final, it most certainly felt like a main event on the day. It was a show-stopping game with more narrative and storyline that anyone could have hoped.

Last year's finalists and their quest for retribution, the Doyle winner that wasn't and the most super of subs winning the game with his first kick.

An exceptional clash of styles and an incredible journey for both teams that ended with a game to match. The Kildare IFC remains one of the most entertaining and unpredictable competitions on the Emerald Isle.

SCORERS

Allenwood: Eoin Bagnall 0-4 (0-2 frees), John Doyle 0-3 (0-2 frees), Darragh Malone 0-1, Arron Dunne 0-1, Eric Judge 0-1 (0-1 mark), Jack O'Brien 0-1.

Casttledermot: Gavin Keating 0-5 (0-3 frees), Emmet O'Keefe 1-1, David Keating 0-1.

TEAMS

Allenwood: Luke Anderson; Fionn Moran, Sean Moran, Brendan Hanafey; Cormac Delaney, Darragh Malone, Ronan Guilfoyle; John Doyle, Rory Moran; Arron Dunne, Johnny Byrne, Billy Maher; Gavin Malone, Eoin Bagnall, Eric Judge. Subs: Darren Judge for Billy Maher (49 minutes), Jack O'Brien for Eric Judge (61 minutes).

Castledermot: Shane Nolan; Billy O'Gorman, Barry Nolan, Tomas Murphy; Bryan Nolan, Oisin Nolan, David Dooley; Gavin Farrell, David Keating; Willie Kelly, Gavin Keating, Padraic Murphy; Paddy Whelan, Conor Nolan, Emmet O'Keefe. Subs: Fionn O'Gorman for Paddy Whelan (44 minutes).

Referee: Henry Barrett