All-Ireland IFC semi-final: Heartbreak for Allenwood

Allenwood Cormac Denagher keeps tight hold of procession despite the challenge during the AIB All-Ireland Intermediate Club Football Championship Semi Final played at Navan

placeholder image — Allenwood Cormac Denagher keeps tight hold of procession despite the challenge during the AIB All-Ireland Intermediate Club Football Championship Semi Final played at Navan

Kildare and Leinster champs go down by three to northern champions

It was heartbreak for Allenwood at Pairc Tailteann, Navan, this afternoon when they lost out for a place in the AIB Alli-Irlenad IFC Club final, going under by three points to Armach and Ulster champions Cullahanna,

Allenwood got off to a blistering start, after an early scare when the northern boys should have found the net from the throw-in but a poor pass saw the chance lost and chance cleared.

The Blues then took over and opened a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after 14 minutes with points from Eoghan Bagnall (2), Johnny Doyle and Cormac Denather.

However by half-time St Patrick's Cullyhanna had not just cut the lead back to went in at the break leading by one, 0-5 to 0-4, keeping Allenwood scoreless for the final 16 or 17 minutes.

On the restart Allenwood were hit with a devastating blow when right from the throw-in Cullahanna gained possession and Ross McQuillan soloed through the middle before blasting to the net.

Allenwood hit back, dominated for long periods of the second half and while cutting the lead back to two with time running out, they just could not get the vital goal and in the end went down 1-11 to 0-11.

Scorers: Cullyhanna, Ross McQuillan 1-1, Aidan Nugent 0-4 (3 frees), Caolán Reavey 0-1, Barry McConville 0-1, Gary Mackin 0-1, Sean Connell 0-1, Shea Hoey 0-1.

Allewood, Eoin Bagnall 0-3 (1 free), Cormac Denagher 0-3 (1 free), Johnny Doyle 0-2, Cormac Denagher 0-1, Daragh Malone 0-1, Billy Maher 0-1.

Cullyhanna, Ross McQuillan 1-1, Aidan Nugent 0-4 (3 frees), Caolán Reavey 0-1, Barry McConville 0-1, Gary Mackin 0-1, Sean Connell 0-1, Shea Hoey 0-1.

CULLYHANNA: James Carrager; Sean Óg Irwin, Sean Connell, Gavan Dufft; Neil McCreesh, Mchael Murray, Barry McConville; Pearse Casey, Jason Duffy; Caolán Reavey, Shea Hoey, Boss McQuinnan; Gary Mackin, Tony Donnelly, Aidan Nugent. Subs: Kiern McCooey for Barry McConville (56 minutes); Phelim Savage for Gavn Duffy (61 minutes).

ALLENWOOD: Luke Anderson; Fionn Moran, Sean Moran, Brendan Hanafety; Mark Delanety, Daraghg Malone, Ronan Guilfoyle; John Doyle, Rory Moran; Aaron Dunne, Johnnt Byrne, Billy Maher; Cormac Denagher, Eoin Bagnell, Eric Judge. Subs: Colm Moran for Aaron Dunne (10 minutes); Jack O'Brien for Eric Judge (46 minutes); Darren Judge for Colm Moran (58 minutes);

REFEREE: James Molloy, Galway.