Wicklow's Allen Brothers Hollywood superstars aiming to bring that B title to a success starved county Reflecting back on last summer's Mick O'Dwyer directed box-office hit 'Nightmare at Croke Park', Wicklow's Terry Allen admits to having only played a walk-on part. Like many of his colleagues from the hills that day, he had misinterpreted the script and was left merely with the role of an extra, a role handed to almost all of the Wicklow hopefuls called to the capital to audition for the Leinster Championship annual extravaganza. "The more I think about our hammering by Kildare, the more I'm convinced that we couldn't every be as bad again in a championship match. I wouldn't say any of us played well that day," explained the then Wicklow centre half forward, whose tussle with Kildare's Glen Ryan was one of the few memorable aspects of a sorry affair for the provincial title outsiders. Like most of his county team mates, the speedy wing attacker now looks forward to a resumption of acquaintances with the Lilywhites. A case of an opportunity to cleanse the soul, purging the horrific memories which would make up the body of nay good horror film script born in the hills of Hollywood, California. As one of three brothers who have come to play starring roles, under the direction of Niall Rennicks, in this latest season particularly, Terry Allen is gunning for another shot at making the big time on the GAA scene. Next Sunday's All-Ireland B Championship Final clash with Antrim will form the perfect stepping stone for him in his attempt to realise his goal. This weekend's big game will herald a mass exodus of folk from all parts of Wicklow. Few Gaels will be left to hold court in Baltinglass, Blessington or Bray. There certainly will be no Allens minding the sheep in Hollywood either, that's guaranteed given the fact that Terry, Paul and robert Allen of Knockrue will all be stripped and ready to do their damnedest to send Antrim back north a downhearted lot. The most experienced member of the Allen county team, Terry's honest reflections on Wicklow's recent suicide tendencies is matched only in it's intensity by his confidence in regard to meeting Antrim. "I'm confident we will win although we've had a chequered sort of record against Antrim in recent times. They'll be tougher opposition than Wexford were in the semi final and I can remember very cleary the time they beat us by four points in last year's All-Ireland B Championship. A month later though, we showed our true form when we met them in the League in Belfast and won easily by ten points or so. I'd be very happy if we were able to reproduce that latter form on Sunday coming." Interestingly, Terry points to the enforced absence of team manager Niall Rennicks for the B match as an underlying factor behind the team's defeat. Wicklow and Rennicks were reunited for the League match, he recalls. The third oldest of the five Allen boys is a Rennicks man alright despite "having trained for three very hard years" under his stewardship. First and foremost though, he's his own man when it comes to gaelic football. Self-,motivation, ambition and resolve have never been force fed to any of the Allen football brigade. Such commodities have always been part of their apparel. A National League Division Three medal winner with Wicklow a couple of seasons back, Terry Allen is sandwiched in the family line-up between Norman, aged 22 and Dave 24 years of age. The eldest lad, Robert 26 was a defender reputed to be the most tenacious and powerful of the brothers. Twenty one year old Paul has been tipped as a possible candidate for Railway Cup selection down the line. Robert and Paul will travel with Terry and Wicklow to Sunday's final in expectation more so than in hope. Meanwhile, Jenny their sister (and the only one of the clan married to date), Norman and Dave will keep their fingers crossed that Wicklow can at last come good and bring home the appropriate goodies to the success starved county. In truth, the Allen brothers began their football apprenticeships from an advantageous position. Nestling between the GAA strongholds of Blessington and Baltinglass, Dunlavin NS provided the best possible ambience for creative skills to blossom. The Allens were all forceful characters in their youth and their manoeuvres on the local football fields reflected an early inclination to find a permanent place in the winners enclosure. All five lads benefited immensely from the promptings of local underage school coaches Tom O'Neill and Tom Foley and honours galore were picked up on the Wicklow GAA juvenile scene. From under 12 right through to minor grade, all five brothers hit the headlines with Terry in particular, grabbing a handful of county championship medals. New but hardly unfamiliar postures beckoned for the Allen quintet on graduation from minor ranks. Robert was first to make the short move to Hollywood, three miles from the 'erstwhile Dunlavin base. The bus which had formerly passed the front door of the family home en route to Dunlavin National School was, at once, the catalyst for the good times with Dunlavin but no longer. As soon as Terry, Paul and Norman linked up with Kevin Cunningham, Mick Murtagh and others to scoop a minor title for Dunlavin, the none too glittering lights of their native Hollywood would be their sole football domain thereafter. Robert, then Terry and then Paul in turn comfortably secured county minor placings with Wicklow, particular representative honours which ran in tandem with high profile appearances with more than useful Wicklow Vocational School sides. Products of Saint Kevins Secondary School, the medal tally largely remained at a premium once out of underage ranks and though leading lights at club and county under 21 level in successive seasons thereafter, the Allens and Wicklow found the old order hard to shift in Leinster. Dave, a self-employed carpenter, came closest to helping break the status quo, as a ready made six foot three inch midfielder with ability to match but a three point defeat to under 21 champions-elect Meath shattered Wicklow's dreams. The Royal County were to prove a particular bogey side for Wicklow under 21s and of course, the Allen brothers. An 'erstwhile captain of the county under 21 team, Terry was accompanied by brother Paul two seasons later on the Wicklow team again denied by Meath. Despite their best efforts in scoring three and two points respectively on Enda McManus (current Meath senior player), and the promising Tom Halpin, the Allen take of what might have been has had an oh too familiar ring about it, sadly, in the colours of their beloved county. Players of undoubted county senior class, the dynamic Robert was the first of the Allen household to follow the footsteps of his father David, and uncles Jimmy and Tommy Dowling (brothers of the boy's mother Eileen). Robert, a qualified electrician employed in the armed services, first played for Wicklow seniors five seasons ago but a crippling knee injury and a six month stint in the Lebanon combined to keep him out of the Wicklow scheme of things for some two years. Recovering sufficiently to recapture his county place in defence for last season's National League tie with Kerry, his enormous strength and stamina in the half back line makes Robert a pedigree championship performer and he's certain to be a key figure on Sunday next. Injuries indeed have thankfully been a rare affliction for the Allens these days. A far cry from times past when Norman's work on the family farm and a career in attack in Hollywood colours was badly interrupted, just as brother Robert was likewise in the wars. A freak ankle injury which required the insertion of double bolts and places and thus necessitated a six month break from the game. A debutant with Wicklow seniors in 1987 as a skilful and pacy half forward faced by the best which Waterford could muster on their visit to Blessington, Terry Allen is a barman by occupation but on Sunday next he'll be aiming to do something more with points than just pulling them. In doing so Terry will be toiling in the best tradition of his father who featured in the Hollywood team which lost to Baltinglass by 0-4 to 0-5 in the 1976 county championship decider and that of his mother's aforementioned brothers, Emo clubmen with Laois experience under their belt. Left half forward and centre half forward respectively on the team that went under to Mayo on Sunday last, Terry and Paul Allen were just two of the players on the Garden County side to impress in the team's championship heroics against Meath in the 1991 season. "We're at our best when we're the underdogs but it's about time we started to produce the goods every time. Our complacency is our own worst enemy though. Still, the fans seem to see light at the end of the tunnel and we must keep faith in ourselves too," explained Terry with more than a hint of determination in his voice. Faced with the almost certain prospect of having to field without the services of midfielder Raymond Danne for the tussle with Antrim, Wicklow and Allen Incorporated are nevertheless fully prepared to do the business on Sunday and leave McAtanmey and company bankrupt of ideas and ploys. "We've finished living off our two matches against Meath last year and the promise we showed then. It's time that we made good our investment of three years of hard slog under Niall (Rennicks)," insisted the wondrous Terry. With Paul and Robert in the wings, who wouldn't bank on Wicklow to render Antrim's B Championship hopes insolvent! "I am delighted to have been afforded this opportunity to express my deep admiration for the great sporting Allen family of Knockrue. Indeed, both Terry and I made our debut in Dunlavin National School together, he as a chubby, brown-eyed, four year old and I, as a fledgling teacher, straight from Carysfort. "Among these children of yesteryear, Terry and his brothers stood out in the keenly contested battles of breaktime which often left the lush playing fields of Dunlavin National School a murky, brown quagmire. As the boys grew up, the Wicklow Juvenile GAA competitions provided a forum for the Allen boys to express their skills among their peers. It would appear that the homespun grit and enthusiasm of these five sons, Robbie, Dave, Terry, Paul and Norman and indeed, daughter Jenny, is inherent in their very natures, due no doubt to the strong sporting spirits of their parents, Dave and Eileen. "Terry's ability to outfox his opponent, Paul's knack of placing the ball exactly where he wishes, Robbie's stamina, power and tenacity as a defender, Dave's fielding ability and Norman's growing proficiency and accuracy as a forward are all attributes of their splendid, natural footballing. "On muddy, winter fields, on board-hard surfaces, in rain, hail, sleet and sunshine, these boys have brought honour and acclaim to our club and have refanned the sporting flame of many a veteran Hollywood supporter. The Allens are one of the great success stories of Hollywood GAA club and, of course, being on the county team, have given a new and more glamourous dimension to their playing careers. They have burned their names into the folklore in our village. Rath De orthu agus ar a saothair!" Maura Kelly Taken from Hogan Stand magazine 4th December 1992 Tweet

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