Maher hails Allenwood legends ahead of IFC final
It has been a long road back to this point for Allenwood following relegation six years ago and now reaching a county final for their first game of its kind in 17 years.
They face Castledermot, last year’s finalists and much more recent participants in the Senior Football Championship, the teams will battle it out on October 22 for Championship glory and a place back at the top table of Kildare football.
Allenwood captain Billie Maher knows what a return to the big time would mean for his club, he said, “It’s massive for the club, 2006 since we have last been in a final and 2004 since we won one. We got relegated in 2017, so my first year with the seniors was Intermediate football. Six years and we haven’t gotten past the quarter-final stage in that time.
“Getting to a semi-final was brilliant for the club, but getting to a final is absolutely massive. Last time we were in a final my brother was on the team, and now he’s a selector. The flags are going up around the village and we can’t wait for October 22.”
The Allenwood captain was quick to praise his squad and one of their standout men in particular during this campaign, full-forward Eoin Bagnall.
BEST SHOOTERS
Maher said, “He (Bagnall) is one of the best shooters in the county, when he’s on form there is nobody stopping him and it gives you great confidence to know you have players like that.
Adding, “It is also great to have that experience with Johnny Doyle, Johnny Byrne and Mark Delaney because there are a lot of young players in this team. Cormac Denagher is in the team and he has started the last two games and has been immense. It is great to have that mixture of experience and youth.”
Maher also discussed the crucial role of those aforementioned senior members on the big occasion.
“It’s massive, we are a young team and we haven’t been in many finals, but we have people that have been. Eoin Bagnall in the All-Ireland U20 final, Johnny Byrne in hurling and football finals, Johnny Doyle in Senior Championship finals, so we have that experience there for big days and it does calm the younger ones’ nerves,” he said.