Allen Gaels eventually find their scoring boots to see off 14 man Drumkeerin

Hard to believe given that they scored 4-10 in Saturday’s Smith Monumentals IFC Semi-Final but Allen Gaels actually struggled to find their scoring touch before turning on the style to break down stubborn 14 man Drumkeerin in Mohill’s Philly McGuinness Park.

The Drumshanbo men created a wealth of scoring opportunities but poor finishing and increasing anxiety meant they only led a struggling Drumkeerin by four points at the break, a lead that scarcely reflected their dominance of play nor the amount of chances they missed and dropped short.

With Radek Oberwan back from injury and impressing in the middle of the park, scoring the first point of the second half, it seemed as if Allen Gaels were starting to put stamp their class on the game as they went eight points clear only for Drumkeerin to hit two points.

Then came a decisive point in the game - Oberwan made a huge catch from a kickout and turned to break but was taken down by Drumkeerin’s Daniel Maguire who swung his leg and caught the Leitrim star. Referee Vincent McMorrow immediately issued a red card to leave the north Leitrim men a man short for the final 17 minutes.

It seemed as if the red card inspired Drumkeerin as Declan Daly struck for a goal just over a minute later but Allen Gaels responded magnificently, sub Emmet Moran finding the net from the very next attack before the Drumshanbo men sealed victory with two late goals from Ciaran McMorrow and sub Martin Raftery.

REPORT: ST FRANCIS TURN ON THE STYLE AGAINST DRUMKEERIN IN SECOND HALF

It was tough on Drumkeerin but Allen Gaels were clearly the stronger team and, even with their litany of first half wides, they were the more clinical over the hour.

The first score didn’t arrive until 11 minutes into the game and it took a defender to come up with the score, Kyle Flynn thumping a 50 yard effort over the crossbar to put Allen Gaels in front. That came after the Drumshanbo men seven wides and one ball short into the keeper to one wide for Drumkeerin.

Both sides missed one more chance before Allen Gaels seemed to make a breakthrough - a wonderful kickout found Arek Oberwan, his long ball was aimed towards Ciaran McMorrow but came off the tips of his fingers below flying on to Caleb Duffy. Duffy off-loaded to a now charging McMorrow and he drilled the ball low to the Drumkeerin net on 15 minutes.

The Allen Gaels team who qualified for the Smith Monumentals IFC Final by defeating Drumkeerin Picture: Willie Donnellan

That relaxed Allen Gaels but didn’t completely cure their yips in front of goal but Duffy and McMorrow (free) put them six up before Drumkeerin opened their account 24 minutes in, Cathal McCauley finishing off a nice more with a fine point.The north Leitrim men were creating more chances but hitting them wide but David Feeney converted a free two minutes before the break to leave it 1-3 to 0-2 at the break, although Drumkeerin did miss four chances late in the half.

Whatever was said in the Allen Gaels dressing room at halftime had an impact as they came out with three points inside the first five minutes, Radek Oberwan scoring a long range effort while Colin Moran fisted over from close range before Ciaran McMorrow converted a free.

Drumkeerin, however, were still proving dangerous and Daniel Egan had to make a good save to deny Drumkeerin sub Jerome Maguire a goal six minutes in, Allen Gaels breaking down the field for Ciaran Walsh to score.

Allen Gaels should have had a second goal but Kevie Forde made a vital save to deny Walsh a goal and Drumkeerin broke for Cathal McCauley to convert a free on nine minutes. Three minutes later, David Feeney profited from a timely interception to score, cutting the gap back to six points.

But Drumkeerin’s hopes took a heavy blow almost immediately - Radek Oberwan claimed the kickout but was taken down by a swinging leg from Daniel Maguire. Referee Vincent McMorrow had no hesitation in brandishing a red card and it seemed as if Drumkeerin’s day was done.

The Drumkeerin team who were defeated by Allen Gaels on Saturday Picture: Willie Donnellan

Sean Lynch immediately added a point for the Gaels but Drummkeerin would not lie down and when they launched a high ball into the Gaels goalmouth, the ball came back to Declan Daly who drove his shot to the net, leaving just four points between the teams midway through the quarter.

But whatever hopes had sprung up in Drumkeerin hearts, they were ruthlessly crushed - Brian Mulvey got the ball in midfield seconds later, his lobbed pass was an attempt to set up sub Emmet Moran for a fisted goal. Moran connected, the ball rebounded off the post and the Allen Gaels sub drove the rebound to the net.

That broke Drumkeerin’s resistance and despite a point each for McCauley and Ciaran Walsh, Ciaran McMorrow ensured there would be no late heroics as he drove a powerful shot to the roof of the Drumkeerin net with just over six minutes to go.

Three minutes later, sub Martin Raftery shot low to the Drumkeerin net to put a seal on the victory. David Feeney converted a fifty with the last score falling to Caleb Duffy as Allen Gaels cruised into the final.

ALLEN GAELS

Scorers: Ciaran McMorrow 2-2, 2f; Martin Raftery & Emmet Moran 1-0 each; Caleb Duffy & Ciaran Walsh 0-2 each; Kyle Flynn, Sean Lynch, Radek Oberwan & Colin Moran 0-1 each

Team: Daniel Egan, Adrian Sorohan, Mark Gunning, Kyle Flynn, Sean Lynch, Alan Wynne, Karl Foley, Brian Mulvey, Radek Oberwan, Colin Moran, Jake Tobin, Arek Oberwan, Ciaran McMorrow, Caleb Duffy, Ciaran Walsh. Subs: Emmet Moran for Moran (34); Shane Walsh for Lynch (45); Martin Raftery & Bryan Beirne for Tobin & Foley (52); Shane Beirne for C Walsh (57)

DRUMKEERIN

Scorers: Cathal McCauley (2f) & David Feeney (1f, 1 50) 0-3 each; Declan Daly 1-0

Team: Kevie Forde, Ross Harrison, Callum McTeigue, Tommy Rogan, James Gallagher, Jason Byrne, Colm Clarke, Declan Daly, Francie Davitt, James Gallagher Corry, David Feeney, Seamus McNama, Cathal McCauley, Daniel Maguire. Subs: Luke Fee & Jerome Maguire for Flynn & McNama (35)

Referee: Vincent McMorrow