Cullyhanna deny Johnny Doyle and Allenwood in intermediate semi-final
WHAT IT MEANS: allenwood's John Doyle dejected. Picture: INPHO/Leah Scholes
Hopes of an elusive All-Ireland medal for Kildare legend and Allenwood icon Johnny Doyle were dashed by a resolute St Patrick’s Cullyhanna side in this AIB intermediate club football semi-final at Pairc Tailteann today.
Doyle played his heart out as he demonstrated his silken skills and drove forward at every opportunity and clipped over a brace of points, one in each half. However his side found scores much harder to come by the longer the game progressed after making a bright start to proceedings.
They led 0-4 to 0-1 at the end of the opening quarter but were then second best as Cullyhanna hit four successive points to lead 0-5 to 0-4 at half-time.
While it took the Armagh champions quite a while to warm to the task they fully deserved their win following what was a severe test provided by the Kildare representatives.
Cullyhanna’s only score for 20 minutes came from an Aidan Nugent free and they had to wait 21 minutes for Caolan Reavey to open their account from play.
The Armagh side did have an opportunity of a goal in the opening 10 seconds when Jason Duffy burst through but he decided on a pass to Gary Mackin which was over hit when the better option was going it alone.
Cormac Denagher and Eoin Bagnell had early points for Allenwood before Cullyhanna were off the mark. Bagnell converted a free and the ageless Doyle then picked off a fine score to leave his side ahead by three.
The influence of county players Jason Duffy, Ross McQuillan and Nugent began to tell as the half wore on and Nugent added two further points while wing back Barry McConville was also on the mark.
It was a tentative enough opening half but it burst to life within 11 seconds of the restart as Pearse Casey won the throw-in and set McQuillan free and the wing forward blasted to the net.
That livened proceedings up considerably and Cullyhanna eventually enjoyed a five-point lead, 1-9 to 0-7, at the three quarter way stage.
Allenwood worked tirelessly to get back into contention but Sean Connell, Barry McConville and Gavin Duffy were all rock solid in the Cullyhanna defence never allowing their opponents create a goal opportunity.
Bagnell, Doyle and Denagher kept the scoreboard ticking over for Allenwood but Cullyhanna were in the ascendancy throughout the half with McQuillan producing a five star display.
A point from Billy Maher reduced the deficit to two points in the first of four added minutes but Nugent’s fifth point sealed it for Stephen Reel’s side.
A Nugent (0-5, 3fs), R McQuillan (1-1), C Reavey, S Connell, G Duffy, B McConville, S Hoey (0-1 each).
E Bagnell (0-4, 2fs), C Denagher (0-3, 1f), J Doyle (0-2), D Malone, B Maher (0-1 each).
J Carragher; S Og Irwin, S Connell, G Duffy; N McCreesh, M Murray, B McConville; P Casey, J Duffy; C Reavey, S Hoey, R McQuillan; G Mackin, T Donnelly, A Nugent. Subs: C McCooey for McConville (56), P Savage for G Duffy (60).
: L Anderson; F Moran, S Moran, B Hanafey; M Delaney, D Malone, R Guilfoyle; J Doyle, R Moran; A Dunne, J Byrne, B Maher; C Denagher, E Bagnell, E Judge. Subs: C Moran for Dunne (11), J O’Brien for Judge (46), D Judge for C Moran (58).
: James Molloy (Galway)
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