Preview: Allenwood take on Ballylinan for a place in final

And the Allenwood band wagon keeps moving along.

And, at times, while they don't make things easy for themselves, they nevertheless have the wherewithal to knuckle down, grind out a result as we saw two weeks ago when they conceded a late goal that forced extra time against St Malachy's of Westmeath, before going on to advance to the last four.

Their opponents on Saturday at Laois Hire O'Moore Park, throw-in 1.30, are champions Ballylinan who had a very impressive win over Wicklow's Barndarrig on a final score line of 5-15 to 1-10.

That is some scoring in any game but in a Leinster club quarter-final very impressive indeed. The winners led at half time by no less than seventeen points, having found the net on three occasions, and despite taking their foot off the throttle in the second half, raised another two green flags.

Gary Walsh, at no. 13 hit an impressive 2-8 in total for Ballylinan, a game played at Laois COE so no doubt manager Padraig Clancy has his charges in flying form.

However one has to wonder just how strong were their opponents in those games but having said that any team can only play what's in front of them.

Allenwood, though, one would suspect will be stronger opponents for the Laois boys compared to what they have come up against up to know.

Noel Mooney's boys continue to improve with every outing and while they would have been very disappointed to have conceded that late goal against Malachy's that forced extra time, they had the confidence and the belief to go again in extra time and finish the game out with three points to spare.

There is very little more that can be said about Allenwood midfielder, Johnny Doyle, that has not been said or written to date.

To see him going as strong in extra time, remember he is all of 45, as in the beginning was remarkable and on top of that you must remember he did not score his first point of the game until near the 60 minute and then went on to add three more is something else.

But there is more to this Allenwood team that JD. Eoghan Bagnall will give many a defender and most defences a tough time; he is big and strong, works very hard, knows where the goals are, his confidence is now sky high and he could prove a big thorn in the side of the Ballylinan defence.

Probably one of the unsung heros of this Allenwood side is corner forward Eric Judge.

He must have covered every blade of grass in Hawkfield against Malachy's getting up and down the pitch, defending, attacking and causing all sorts of bother.

At the back Luke Anderson is as good as there is at this level, a great stopper he made a couple of super saves last time out; corner back Brendan Hanafey caught the eye two weeks ago while Sean Moran was strong at 3.

And what of Darragh Malone?

He is enjoying a mighty season, leads by example, defends well, attacks with purpose and does not shy away if a scoring presents itself as we saw once again in the quarter-final.

Rory Moran, along with Johnny Doyle, was involved a lot of good moves, Johnny Byrne gives it his all while captain Billy Maher is getting back to full fitness with every game.

Mark Delaney, missing through injury for the last two games, is edging back to full fitness and he would was able to tog it would be another big boost to The Blues.

As for super sub, Jack O'Brien, well what can you say; coming in to get the winner against Castledermot and then finding the net in extra time against Malachy's says it all.

If Allenwood were to get over this one and book a place in the Leinster decider it would be one of those great achievements and what an occasion that would be for Johnny Doyle at this stage of his illustrious career.

Like any game at this level, playing away makes life very difficult but it would be a brave man who would go against Allenwood at this stage.