Clogherinkoe survive huge Allenwood comeback push in dramatic Kildare SFC Prelim

Clogherinkoe 3-11

Allenwood 1-16

Clogherinkoe got their Kildare SFC campaign off to the perfect by securing a winner's group spot for Sunday's draw by beating Allenwood in their Preliminary Round fixture. The Cloghs survived a huge scare with a single point win after leading by 13 points, at 2-9 to 0-2, a half-time.

The eventual winners started as they meant to go on with a point from Killian Galligan after 14 seconds.

Just past a minute on the clock, Eoghan McMonagle, an instrumental first half influence, had doubled that advantage. 

Daniel Grehan doubled the lead again with a gorgeous two-pointer that was eventually awarded after consultation with the linesman.

Aedan Boyle then set up Jimmy Lynch for his first to leave Clogherinkoe 0-5 to no score ahead after seven minutes. 

The Cloghs were playing well, but Allenwood did themselves no favours with wasteful passing and kicking long balls into nothing.

Clogherinkoe got their second two-pointer through Caelum Flanagan with a booming score that lifted the visiting crowd.

Allenwood got their first score a minute later when Eoin Bagnall knocked over a close-range free.

The leading side responded to the solitary score with their first goal of the evening. It arrived when Eoghan McMonagle slipped Mark Nolan through on goal and the centre-forward was judged to have been brought down by Luke Anderson. Nolan took the kick himself and found the top left corner in some style.

Allenwood’s second point came from an Aaron Dunne free in the 21st minute to leave the game at 1-7 to 0-2.

The pace dipped slightly in the five minutes that followed but Clogherinkoe put their foot down once again and hit a further 1-2 before the break.

Caeleum Flanagan found the net after being set up, as so much was, by Eoghan McMonagle.

The half’s two remaining scores came from the boot of Cein McMonagle as Clogherinkoe went in with a 2-9 to 0-2 lead at the break.

Allenwood to their credit came out swinging and, after a Joey Cunningham two-pointer mere seconds after the restart, found the net through Cormac Denagher. The wing-forward concluded his driving run with a cool finish past Keith Wilkinson.

Allenwood then gave the leaders a scare when Denagher hit the underside of the bar which was followed by a goal-line scramble.

After a point at either end, a Johnny Byrne two-pointer closed the gap to six, at 2-10 to 1-7, with 15 minutes to go.

Allenwood poured further pressure on to try and capitalise on their momentum but failed to do so with a few unsuccessful two-point attempts.

Aedan Boyle seemingly ended this game as a contest when he found the net in the 53rd minute for The Cloghs.

Allenwood then hit three two-pointers without reply with two from Joey Cunnigham and one from Eanna O’Neill, which were followed by a single from Jamie Gartland to make this game 3-11 to 1-14 in the 62nd minute.

An Eoin Bagnall two-pointer in the 64th minute reduced the gap to one in dramatic circumstances but the restart that followed drew the referee's whistle.

Clogherinkoe were well worth their win overall, but Allenwood will regret that they didn't show more of their second half qualities throughout this fixture.

Clogherinkoe, Caelum Flanagan 1-2 (one 2pt), Mark Nolan 1-0 (1-0 penalty), Aedan Boyle 1-0, Daniel Grehan 0-2 (one 2pt), Cein McMonagle 0-2 (0-1 frees), Jimmy Lynch 0-2, Killian Galligan 0-1, Eoghan McMonagle 0-1, Andrew Hill 0-1.

Allenwood, Joey Cunningham 0-6 (three 2pt), Eoin Bagnall 0-3 (one 2pt, 0-1 frees), Cormac Denagher 1-0, Johnny Byrne 0-2 (one 2pt), Eanna O'Neill 0-2 (one 2pt), Aaron Dunne 0-1 (0-1 frees), Alex Lenehan 0-1, Jamie Gartland 0-1.

CLOGHERINKOE: Keith Wilkinson; Conor Grehan, Eoghan McMonagle, Ben Kenny; David Hill, Joe Mulraney, Andre Hill; Daniel Grehan, Killian Galligan; Aedan Boyle, Mark Nolan, Caelum Flanagan; Jimmy Lynch, Cein McMonagle, Rory Phelan. Subs: Rian Cully for Rory Phelan (47 minutes), Jamie Boyle for Killian Galligan (57 minutes).

ALLENWOOD: Luke Anderson; Brendan Hanafey, Sean Moran, Cillian Moran; Jamie Gartland, Alex Lenehan, Fionn Moran; Johnny Doyle, Gavin Malone; Ronan Guilfoyle, Eoin Bagnall, Cormac Denagher; Aaron Dunne, Johnny Byrne, Joey Cunningham. Subs: Eanna O'Neill for Johnny Doyle (half-time), James Moore for Aaron Dunne (half-time), Mark Delaney for Ronan Guilfoyle (52 minutes).

Referee: Billy O’Connell

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