Corn na Boinne title for St Colmcille's

St Colmcille's were worthy winners of the Corn na Boinne Cup tonight at Dunganny when they were too strong for a gritty Castletown side as they won by 2-15 to 0-10 after leading by 1-10 to 0-6 at the interval.

However, it was Castletown who were quickest out of the traps and raced into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead by the end of the first-quarter with points from Shane Hoey (two), Tommy Smith, Barry Smith and Kevin Ross.

St Colmcille's manager Colm Nally put the slow start down to the impact of the weekend A FL Div 1 game against Gaeil Colmcille which his team had to win to avoid relegation - they won by 2-14 to 3-8.

They were also without regulars Jamie McDonnell and Ciaran Kelly due to injuries.

Castletown could only muster another point for the remainder of the half with Tommy Smith sending over in the 26th minute.

Graham Reilly finished the opening half with 1-3 to his credit for St Colmcille's - the goal arriving in the 20th minute after James Conlon made the opening.

Ben Brennan and Jack Reynolds each sent over a brace of points with Conlon, David O'Byrne and Conor O'Byrne also on target.

That seven-point advantage was sufficient to leave the second-half quite comfortable for St Colmcille's although five points in that second-half was a poor return and the second goal was almost on the stroke of full-time from substitute Donal Meagher.

The points arrived from Niall Ronan (two), Conlon, Brennan and Reilly while Ross (three) and Barry Smith replied for Castletown who had an official sent outside the fence by referee Richard Morris.

St Colmcille's - Jordan Browne; Adam Lynch, Eoin Woods, Ciaran Ward; Danny McMahon, Ian MUllen, John McKenna; Robbie McCloskey, Graham Reilly (1-4); David O'Byrne (0-1), Ben Brennan (0-3), Jack Reynolds (0-2); James Conlon (0-2), Niall Ronan (0-2), Conor O'Byrne (0-1).

Subs - Darragh Brodigan for Woods half-time, Sean Collier for McKenna 35 mins, David Sheeran for Lynch 49m, Donal Meagher (1-0) for D O'Byrne 56m, Ciaran Kelly for Conlon 59m.

Castletown - Jonathan Ginnity; Joey Carry, Jonathan Metry, Francis Bellew; Shane Hoey (0-2), Gerard Farrelly, Ross Blaney; Kevin Ross (0-4), Damien Ginnity; Robbie Hoey, Stephen Duffy, William Bellew; Tommy Smith (0-2), Barry Smith (0-2), Noel Smyth.

Subs - Francis Hoey for Smyth 40 mins, Paul Smith for Ginnity 52m, Conor Price for Hoey 56m.

Referee - Richard Morris (Blackhall Gaels).

PATH TO SUCCESS

First round - St Colmcille's 0-14, Cortown 0-11

Second round - St Colmcille's 0-21, Nobber 0-21.

Replay - St Colmcille's 0-15, Nobber 0-11.

Semi-final - St Colmcille's 4-16, Walterstown 1-10.

Final - St Colmcille's 2-15, Castletown 0-10