Allen Gaels show ruthless intent in 24-point rout of Kiltubrid

Painful to watch is the only way to describe this group-stage encounter between Kiltubrid and Allen Gaels in the Smith’s Monumental Leitrim Intermediate Championship.

Allen Gaels were ruthless, relentless, and efficient in their dismantling of their neighbours during this 24-point victory in Kiltubrid.

The performance keeps last year's finalists at the top of the championship table, and the manner of their win is a clear mark of intent that they plan to be back there again.

The match was effectively over at half-time after goals from Oberwan, Lynch, and McMorrow gave the visitors a 12-point cushion.

Impressively, they doubled that lead by the final whistle, and even more impressively, despite having the win secured, they played with relentless intensity until the very end—pressing high up the pitch, forcing turnovers, and looking desperate to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

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They clearly learned a lesson from last year’s heartbreaking intermediate defeat to Melvin Gaels, when they squandered an eight-point lead in the dying moments: never take your foot off the opponent’s throat.

Radek Oberwan opened the scoring for Drumshanbo inside the second minute after bursting through a gap in the Kiltubrid defence. His early goal effort bounced over via the crossbar—a sign of things to come.

Fionn O’Brien equalised for Kiltubrid two minutes later from a free won by Stephen McLoughlin, who was fouled during a surging attacking run at the Drumshanbo defence.

Kiltubrid were outclassed and overrun, but they didn’t play badly by any means. When they went to Drumshanbo in the early stages, they found gaps, won frees, and picked off scores. But adventurous attacking play was lacking overall, and they were generally too lethargic going forward.

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Drumshanbo, on the other hand, had no such issues. They struck their first goal six minutes in after a lightning-fast move from their own kickout: Caleb Duffy fielded high, quickly fed inside forward Ciaran McMorrow, who squared across goal for Sean Lynch to finish—all within about 15 seconds.

Meanwhile, Kiltubrid struggled badly on their own restarts, and Drumshanbo capitalised. Midfield dominance gave them control, capped by a neat turning score from Kieran Kilcline. McMorrow then added another before Kiltubrid hit back through Stephan McLoughlin, who slotted over after intercepting a loose pass.

Kiltubrid mounted their strongest spell midway through the half and could have had two goals but for two superb point-blank saves from Daniel Egan. Instead, they managed only a single point from Aiden McKernan during their period of dominance.

That momentum was killed off after 20 minutes when a Ciaran McMorrow free from out near the sideline sailed straight into the net.

From there, Kiltubrid were deflated. Allen Gaels hunted in packs, harried ball carriers, and turned the middle third into a warzone. Turnover after turnover followed.

The pressure paid off when Kilcline stroked over from range before Oberwan tore through the defence and rifled a shot into the net to effectively end the contest. Further points from Oberwan and Kilcline stretched the lead before half-time.

The second half was just as one-sided. Drumshanbo resumed with a score inside the first minute as Kilcline pointed after a quick ball inside.

Barry McWeeney responded for Kiltubrid, but Oberwan quickly cancelled it out with an outside-of-the-boot effort. Jake Tobin then clipped over another after being set up by Kilcline.

Allen Gaels continued to threaten goals, forcing Conor Prior into two fine saves before Oberwan finally beat him—rounding the keeper and blasting into the roof of the net midway through the half.

McMorrow added a classy point from the right wing before Lynch followed up with another.

O’Brien gave the Kiltubrid support something to cheer about with the game’s first two-pointer from a free, but it was short-lived. Moments later, Kilcline rose highest to claim a high delivery and laid off to Lynch, who slotted home his second and his team’s fifth goal.

The game was long gone, but Allen Gaels still tackled with ferocity—too much, in McMorrow’s case, as he received a second yellow for a heavy challenge.

With the final kick, Tobin rounded off the rout. His dipping effort deceived Prior, sailing over his head and into the top corner for Allen Gaels’ sixth goal.