Two frees from the boot of Colin Moran in stoppage time helped Allen Gaels defeat Aughnasheelin and in doing so claim a place in the Smith Monumentals Intermediate Championship semi-final.

With the situation tight at the top of the table Allen Gaels knew at least a three point win would be good enough to advance to the last four. Aaron Hoare had a chance near the end for Aughnasheelin but his fisted effort didn’t trouble Ronan Moran.

It was a game of two halves. Allen Gaels were on top in the first and Aughnasheelin came out fighting in the second. Within minutes of the start of the second half Allen Gaels were ahead by 12 when Moran found the back of the net. Credit to a young Aughnasheelin side they never gave him and staged a fightback.

Goals at crucial stages proved the difference for Allen Gaels but Aughnasheelin will bemoan the harsh penalty decision given against them. Ciaran Walsh put it away to extend the lead to four points.

Fintan Fitzpatrick was once again excellent for Aughnasheelin while for Allen Gaels Moran and Caleb Duffy were most prominent. Duffy got his side’s second goal in the 27th minute. A Moran free and a neat point from Duffy gave Gaels at 0-5 to 2-8 lead going in at the break.

Two minutes into the second half Duffy set Moran up for Gaels’ third goal. Fitzpatrick got a score for Aughnasheelin from a free; their first since the 23rd minute. Gavin Sammon and Fitzpatrick got scores while sub Cathal Egan fired over a fine point in the 41st minute. 

Another Fitzpatrick free in the 44th minute put three points between them but Allen Gaels hit back with a fourth goal. The final 10 minutes were frantic as both sides tried to get vital scores. 

Aughnasheelin made Allen Gaels concede frees which Fitzpatrick kicked over. He scored 10 points from frees and a fine point from play in the 58th minute cut the deficit to just one point.

Moran kicked over a free in the 60th minute for Gaels and another free from the corner-forward three minutes later proved crucials as his side booked their place in the semi-final.