Dowling's early goal sets champions on their way to last four
James Dowling scored the goal that got Old Leighlin up and running in i their SFC quarter-final win over Bagenalstown Gaels Photo: © Michael O'Rourke Photography 2026
Reigning champions, Old Leighlin, enjoyed a convincing Senior Football Championship Quarter-final win over Bagenalstown Gaels in Netwatch Cullen Park on Sunday.
After some flat performances in the group stages, the eventual winners were particularly good in the opening half where they led 1-8 to 0-5 at the interval. The goal came on three minutes when James Dowling found the net from close range. A brace of Mikey Bambrick two-pointers from play kept the pressure on their opponents while Aaron Amond was also on target from outside the arc.
Bagenalstown did play well but just found themselves up against an unstoppable force. Cian Doyle scored three points, two from frees, while Jamie Clarke and Danny Doyle also raised white flags.
Early in the second half, Danny Doyle did convert a free and Robbie Kane was also on the mark for the Gaels but Bambrick cancelled those out with another two-pointer.
Ultimately the second half was a more evenly contested thirty minutes but Old Leighlin were not going to be denied and they can now look forward to a semi-final against Éire Óg who beat them in the group stages.
M Bambrick 0-7 (3-2ps), A Amond 0-4 (1-2p 1-2pf), J Dowling 1-1, C Coughlan 0-2 (fs), D Brennan, T Roche 0-1 each.
C Doyle 0-5 (3fs), J McCullagh 0-2 (1-2p), R Kane, D Doyle, P McDonnell, J Clarke 0-1 each.
Steven Scallan; Sean Bambrick, Tadhg O’Neill, Daniel Brennan; Tadhg Roche, Jordan Kelly, Jamie Doyle; Ian Atkinson, David Bambrick; James Dowling, Mikey Bambrick, Aaron Amond; Cathal Coughlan, Seamus Kinsella, Darragh Fitzgerald Subs: Ruarc O’Neill for Atkinson (temporary 38), Alan Fitzgerald for Kinsella (56), Kevin Carpenter for Brennan (61), Ben Stanley for Coughlan (63), Ruarc O’Neill for Doyle (64).
Rory Doyle; Thomas McDonnell, Jason Wall, Patrick Abbey; Sean Wall, Danny Doyle, Niall Bolger; Oisin Dillon, Jack McCullagh; Patrick McDonnell, Jamie Clarke, Jake Doyle; Cian Doyle, Robbie Kane, Jason Dillon.
Subs: John Doyle for Bolger (45), Alan Wall for Abbey (58), Ross O’Neill for J Dillon (58).
Jonathan Murphy (St Mullins).
