Allenwood win a thriller, after extra time, to book a final spot

Allenwood 2-17

Ballylinan 1-9 

After Extra-Time

Time was ticking. We were well over the 60 minutes, due mainly to a hold-up for an injured player. Allenwood were a point adrift. Three wides in a row did nothing for their cause; neither did what looked like a certain close in free, waved away.

On 66 minutes The Blues were attacking down the right wing, a foul, a free some 40m or so out, mid-way between the middle and sideline.

Up stepped Darren Judge, on the field of play a mere 3-4 minutes he had yet to kick a ball. But there was no question who was going to take the kick and with his trusted left foot hit the ball firm and straight between the posts.

Ballylinan 1-7 Allenwood 0-10.

Extra time.

A thrilling AIB Leinster Club IFC semi-final at Laois Hire O'Moore Park, Portlaoise, was to have two halves of ten minutes each that beglan with Jack O'Brien being denied a goal by a superb save from the home side's Tom Wright, nothing came from the 45.

Gary Walsh pushed Ballylinan ahead; Allenwood hit back and when a 45 fell short ,Johnny Doyle gained possession and fired over; Jack O'Brien split the posts, Allenwood were ahead by one 1-8 to 0-12 as the half-time whistle arrived, still all to play for.

On the resumption Johnny Byrne stretched the lead before Johnny Doyle made a darting run, ghosted past a defender, hand-passed to Jack O'Brien and the super sub did it again as he filled the net Allenwood 1-13 Ballylinan 1-8.

Cormac Denagher added a point before Rory Moran was fed in by Denagher and the midfielder found the net.

Unbelievable stuff.

Darragh Malone, Moran (Rory) and Jack O'Brien added points; Gary Walsh replied with a free as the final whistle arrived, incredible Allenwood winning by an unbelievable eleven points.

Harsh on Ballylinan no doubt but for Allenwood a fully deserved place in the Leinster Club IFC final and a date with Dublin side Scoil Uí Chonaill, who defeated Rathkenny after a penalty shoot-out.

Allenwood's game was one that will be recalled, relived and replayed for many a day.

Ballylinan took a 0-3 to 0-1 lead mid-way through the opening half before Allenwood got to grips with midfield, Eoghan Bagnall reduced the led but Gary Walsh had three in it again on 19 minutes.

Two 'shorts' in a row from Bagnall and Johnny Byrne before the latter showed his relief as his next effort went over, followed by points from Darragh Malone (brilliant effort), Bagnall and Arron Dunne saw the visitors lead at the break 0-5 to 0-4; that after Sean Moran had denied Gary Walsh with a brilliant block.

Ballylinan got a brilliant start to the second half as from the throw-in Gary Walsh put Jamie Farrell in who slid the ball under Luke Anderson.

Allenwood replied and leveled with points from Eoghan Bagnall and an excellent Johnny Doyle 45.

It was nip and tuck now as Ballylinan regained the lead before Johnny Byrne made a mighty catch, down to Arron Dunne whose close-in shot was brilliantly knocked out by Tom Wright, a save that one felt at the time could be the turning point.

Johnny Doyle came forward, Darragh Malone was like a train to his left, took the past and blasted over to level.

Allenwood were hit with a big blow when Fionn Maher was black carded and Gary Walsh had the home boys back in front but a fine move saw Billy Maher punch over to level again with 54 on the clock.

Walsh (free) regained the lead as the clock hit 59 minutes; before that the game was held up for some minutes as Ryan Brady was forced off injured.

Three wides on the trot before that Darren Judge brilliant free kick saw the game go to extra time and the rest, as they say, is history.

What a game and what a display from this never-say-die Allenwood team.

Heroes all over the field but none more so than Sean Moran, Darragh Malone, Johnny Doyle, Eoghan Bagnall and super sub

Jack O'Brien, not forgetting that incredible effort from Darren Judge.

Roll on the Leinster final in two weeks time!

Scorers: Allenwood, Jack O'Brien 1-2, Rory Moran 1-1, Eoin Bagnall 0-3 (2 frees), Darragh Malone 0-3, Johnny Doyle 0-2 (45), Johnny Byrne 0-2, Aaron Dunne 0-1 (free), Billy Maher 0-1, Darren Judge 0-1 (free), Cormac Denagher 0-1.

Ballylinan, Gary Walsh 0-7 (5 frees, 45, mark), Jamie Farrell 1-0, Ryan Brady 0-1, Micheal Downey 0-1.

ALLENWOOD: Luke Anderson; Fionn Moran, Sean Moran, Brendan Hanafey; Gavin Malone, Darragh Malone, Ronan Guilfoyle; John Doyle, Rory Moran; Aaron Dunne, Johnny Byrne, Billy Maher cpt.; Cormac Denagher, Eoin Bagnall, Eric Judge. Subs: Mark Delaney for Eric Judge (half-time); Jack O'Brien for Arron Dunne (56 minutes); Darren Judge for Billy Maher (62 minutes); Cillian Moran for Fionn Moran (64 minutes); Colm Moran for Gavin Moran (69 minutes); Alex Lenehan for Cormac Denagher (78 minutes); Oran O'Sullivan for Ronan Guilfoyle (79 minutes).

BALLYLINAN: Tom Wright; Darragh Loughman, Seamus Lacey, Josh McDonald; Michael Downey, Cathal Leonard, Jesse McEvoy; Padraig McEvoy, Alan Farrell; Jamie Farrell, Ryan Brady, Ciaran Farrell cpt.; Gary Walsh cpt., Ciaran Fennessy, Cathail Dunne. Subs: Kevin Byrne for Jesse McEvoy (half-time); Cathal Casey for Cathail Dunne (39 minutes); Joey Walsh for Jamie Farrell (51 minutes); Larry Kealy for Ryan Brady (57 minutes); Jamie Farrell for Cathal Casey (start et); Liam Kealy for Darragh Loughman (78 minutes).

REFEREE: Andrew Smith, Meath.