Rampant Allen Gaels send out a loud message

Allen Gaels, undefeated this year, cruised to a massive 28 point win over a brave young Aughavas side in Friday's one-sided Leitrim ACL Division 2 final at Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada.

With performances as dominant as this, it will be very hard to keep the favourites tag off the Allen Gaels man ahead of the Smith Monumentals IFC which gets underway next Saturday.

Ironically, it was an even Stephen contest for the first 17 minutes but after that, the physically stronger and taller Allen Gaels men upped their performance several gears, dominating the kickouts as Aughavas' challenge began to fall apart.

In the final 13 minutes of the first half, Allen Gaels hit virtually a point a minute while  holding Aughavas scoreless, leaving the Drumshanbo men 14 points clear at the break. 

Second half goals from Caleb Duffy, Kevin Kilcline, Ciaran Walsh and Ciaran McMorrow killed off any hopes that Aughavas might have had of turning the tables on their opponents.

ST MARY'S FIND A WAY PAST FENAGH IN EXTRA-TIME DIVISION 1 FINAL

Aughavas matched Allen Gaels for just a little over the first quarter of this game but after that they had no answer to the Drumshanbo men's power pack performance and such is the Gaels form, they'll be hard stopped in the championship.

Several Allen Gaels players like Brian Mulvey, Radek Oberwan, Caleb Duffy and Thomas Mulvey were in contention for this accolade but the overall performance of Kieran Kilcline gets the nod as main man.

Undefeated Allen Gaels will start as firm favourites to win the 2025 Intermediate  championship. Despite the heavy defeat, Aughavas will be hoping that they can give the 2025 Junior championship a good run and they are certainly in good form.

The game's opening exchanges were evenly matched. Neither side managed to register a score for the first four minutes but Allen Gaels drew first blood when Radek Oberwan fired over a fifth minute point after being put through by his brother Arek.

Aughavas got back on level terms within  two minutes when Darren Shortt split the uprights. Aughavas took the lead for the first and only time as Shortt popped over his second point. The Aughavas lead was short lived as Allen Gaels regained control of the action with Kieran Kilcline putting over a two point free on the 7 minute mark.

The Aughavas team who were defeated by Allen Gaels in the ACL Division 2 Final Picture: Stefan Hoare

Darren Shortt punished a foul three minutes later from a free and it continued to be tit for tat  with Thomas Mulvey blazing an 11th minute goal chance over the bar to put the Drumshanbo side ahead again.

Neither side managed to score for the next six minutes but Joey McBrien got Aughavas back on level terms when he fired over a 17th point from close range. Within the space of another 60 seconds Allen Gaels regained the lead when Brian Mulvey hit over a well hit two pointer from play.

Mulvey's score signalled the end of the Aughavas challenge and the beginning of the Allen Gaels march to a runaway win. In the final ten minutes of the first half Allen Gaels certainly overpowered Aughavas when they hit an unanswered eleven points.

Kieran Kilcline fired over seven points  with two from placed balls while Karl Foley, Sean Lynch, Ciaran McMorrow and Thomas Mulvey added a point each as Allen Gaels led 0-18 to  0-4 at the halftime break.

After winning possession from the  throw-in, Allen Gaels raced through the Aughavas defence and Caleb Duffy finished to the net in the perfect start to the second half.  Allen Gaels inflicted more grief on Aughavas during the next eight minutes as they increased their massive lead by 3-3 - Kieran Kilcline tapped over a free and fired to the Aughavas net while Ciaran Walsh hit a soccer style goal  and Caleb Duffy shot two points.

In reply Aughavas got their second half account opened when Darren Short split the  uprights with a 40th minute effort. Allen Gaels extended their lead further by the end of the third quarter with Ciaran McMorrow getting their fourth goal and adding a point while Radek Oberwan also chipped in with a point.

CLOONE TO HOST 2024 CONNACHT GOLD SFC FINAL REPEAT ON FRIDAY

Darren Shortt and Caleb Duffy  traded points before Allen Gaels goalkeeper Daniel Egan denied a 53rd minute Aughavas goal chance when making a fine save.

However Egan's parried save rebounded to Darren Shortt who popped over a consolation point. Two minutes later, Aughavas, who to their credit never gave up the fight, added another point when Joey McBrien split the Gaels posts.

In the closing minutes, Allen Gaels sub David Wynne became his side's tenth player to get on the score sheet when he whipped their final score, a point. Aughavas had the final say in the game's scoring when Adrian Shortt fired over prior to the final whistle.

ALLEN GAELS

Scorers: Kieran Kilcline 1-11, 2pf, 3f; Caleb Duffy 1-3 f; Ciaran McMorrow 1-2; Ciaran Walsh 1-0; Thomas Mulvey (tp), Radek Oberwan & Brian Mulvey 0-2 each; Sean Lynch, Karl Foley & David Wynne 0-1 each

Team: Daniel Egan, Adrian Sorohan, Oran Foley, Martin Rafferty; Arek Oberwan, Mark Gunning, Karl Foley; Brian Mulvey, Radek Oberwan; Seam Lynch, Caleb Duffy, Thomas Mulvey; Kieran Kilcline, Ciaran Walsh, Ciaran McMorrow. Subs: Kyle Flynn for O Foley (HT); Bryan Beirne for A Oberwan (44); David Wynne for Kilcline (49); Eoin Guckian for R Oberwan (51); Evan Foley for T Mulvey (53)

AUGHAVAS

Scorers: Darren Shortt 0-6, 3f; Joey McBrien 0-2, 2f ; Adrian Shortt 0-1

Team: Declan Brookes; Gary Mitchell, Fiachra Casey, Liam McIntyre; Shane Shortt, Pearse Kenny, Conor Canning; Eoin Kenny, Shane O'Brien; David Charles, Joey McBrien, Adrian Shortt; Darren Shortt, Gavin Gallogly. Subs: Éanna McNamara for P Kenny (HT); Eugene O'Rourke for S Shortt (37); Joey Kearney for G. Gallogly (45)

REFEREE: Jason Glennon