Aherlow show no mercy to Golden as they cruise to another West Intermediate final

Shane Hennessy Agri-Advisor West Intermediate Football Championship Semi-Final
Aherlow 3-15(24) Golden/Kilfeacle 0-6(6) 

By Francis Coughlan at Bansha

Aherlow enjoyed a comfortable victory over defending champions Golden/Kilfeacle on Wednesday evening in the semi-final of the Shane Hennessy Agri-Advisor West Intermediate Football Championship at Bansha.  

Aherlow having fallen through the relegation trap door from Senior in 2022 were playing in the Intermediate championship for the first time since 1995 their County success in the grade in the same year. Golden/Kilfeacle on the other hand were the defending champions and looking to reach a fifth decider in six seasons.  

The game played in ideal conditions on the midsummer solstice with the sun shining brightly saw Aherlow show their credentials for an immediate return to the Senior ranks from the word go. Barry Grogan pointed a free after a minute and half before Stephen Carey found the net a minute later. Carey received the ball running directly at goal and made no mistake.

Jack Leamy responded with a pointed free but Golden/Kilfeacle struggled to make headway against a well drilled Aherlow defence which was spined by Sean Mullins and Diarmuid Looby.

Aherlow though moved the ball well with Mark Russell and Cathal Dillon to the fore out the field while inside Barry Grogan was a continuous threat. Grogan and centre forward Elligot added further points for Aherlow.

Jack Leamy did respond with a second point for the defending champions but they were rocked with a second goal early in the second quarter when Barry Grogan fisted past a hesitant Jack Currivan.

Aherlow were moving with intent and purpose with wing forwards Jack O’Halloran and Ben Carey moving forward. The latter adding his name to the score sheet.

Three minutes from the break Thomas Hanly who got through an amount of work collected a free which was drifting wide and this result in Cathal Dillon kicking Aherlow’s third goal. By half time Aherlow led 3-6 to 0-2.

Helped by four points including three from Barry Grogan inside the first six minutes of the second half Aherlow had the game sown up. Jack Currivan had to be alert to deny a fourth goal while at the other hit Jack Leamy kicked his third point and Golden/Kilfeacle’s first from play in the eight minute and double that a minute later.

Golden/Kilfeacle battled hard led by Daithi Bargary and Jack Leamy but Aherlow continued to be a threat with substitute Michael Sean Nash pushing for inclusion the next day out. Grogan kept the scoreboard ticking over with his trademark frees from the ground.

The game though petered out as the half progressed as Golden/Kilfeacle failed to find any real penetration in the Aherlow defence. Aherlow will now face Galtee Rovers in the final on Wednesday June 28th at 7.30pm in Sean Treacy Park. 

Scorers & Teams:
Aherlow: Barry Grogan (1-9, (0-7f)), Cathal Dillon (1-1), Stephen Carey (1-0), Michael Elligot (0-2), Ben Carey (0-2), Michael Sean Nash (0-1)

Golden/Kilfeacle: Jack Leamy (0-6, (0-4f)

Aherlow: Jack Whelton, Mark Hanley, Sean Mullins, Micheal Russell, Tadgh Carew, Diarmuid Looby, Darragh O’Brien, Cathal Dillon, Mark Russell, Ben Carey, Michael Elligot, Jack O’Halloran, Thomas Hanley, Barry Grogan, Stephen Carey

Subs Used: Tom O’Donoghue, Michael Sean Nash, Shane Russell, Liam Carew, Darragh Quirke

Golden/Kilfeacle: Jack Currivan, JJ Byrnes, Shane O’Connell, Daithi Bargary, Eanna Ormond, Cian O’Connell, Aidan Tuohy, Padraig Dalton, Jack Leamy, Aaron Colohan, Jack Bergin, Andy Byrnes, Ben Currivan, Tom Byrnes, Gavin Dalton

Subs Used: Mikey Bergin, Colin Tuohy, Jason Morey 

Referee: Richie O’Connor (Arravale Rovers)