Gaeil Colmcille produce a fluent performance

Hunger, passion and a greater will to win gave Gaeil Colmcille the edge as they secured their SHC status with a hugely impressive victory over relegation-threatened Rathmolyon at Athboy on Sunday afternoon. Billed as a relegation play-off, both sides were aware that the winner would be safe. Buoyed by those possibilities it was Gaeil Colmcille who were the more committed side and showed an appetite for success that left Rathmolyon struggling to match them in any sector of the field. It wasn't until the realisation of relegation dawned on Rathmolyon in the final quarter that they started to match Gaeil Colmcille for passion and desire, but by that stage the game was out of reach as they trailed by 1-9 to 4-7. Even when Rathmolyon did try to up the tempo and impose themselves they were met with a dogged resistance and determination that epitomised the effort put in by Gaeil Colmcille. The Kells men were superb and fully merited their victory. In games against Trim and Na Fianna they got themselves into decent positions, but threw away the points. They were determined that wouldn't happen again last Sunday. "We said before the game that we might need a few goals to win it. So those four goals really set us up. The lads played really well, I'm delighted," manager Ian Callaghan told the Meath Chronicle. "The first couple of games against Kilmessan and Kiltale were tough. We put ourselves in a winning position against Trim and Na Fianna and didn't push on, but today we finished the job. "The lads worked very hard and they got what they deserved today. We have a very young team and they are a great bunch of lads. We have a lot of under-21s and they worked hard all year," concluded Callaghan. From the off Gaeil Colmcille looked hungry. They were first to most balls, defended in numbers and attacked in packs, Rathmolyon had no response to being put under so much pressure. An example of the pressure that Rathmolyon faced is reflected in the fact they hit 12 wides and dropped a few other efforts short which Meath minor goalkeeper Conor Murray dealt with brilliantly. Gaeil Colmcille shot only two wides and weren't off target for the first time until the final quarter. Everything they did was carried out with a conviction and purpose that secured the win. As well as having the solid foundation of a class goalkeeper, Gaeil Colmcille were also backed up by the brilliant Mickey Foley, Cormac Ferguson, Tom Shine, Denis O'Neill, Robbie Flanagan, Fionn Ferguson and Brendan Murray. Gaeil Colmcille signalled their intentions inside a minute when Fionn Ferguson gathered Stephen Reddy's long ball, turned brilliantly and rifled a shot to the net. Kevin Fagan, one of Rathmolyon's brighter performers along with Mark Lynch, responded with a fine point as the game settled into an exciting start. Murray restored Gaeil Colmcille's three-point cushion from a free, but then the tide turned in Rathmolyon's favour with Fagan firing a superb goal and Mike Cole pointing a free from his own 65-metre line. Instead of capitulating at losing the initiative Gaeil Colmcille settled again. Murray and Gary Cole traded points before Shine converted a penalty after Murray had been fouled to give Gaeil Colmcille a 2-2 to 1-3 advantage. Eamonn Regan, Mike Cole ('65') and Daniel Whelan edged Rathmolyon clear again five minutes before the break, but that was the last time they had their noses in front. Points from Shine (two frees), Murray, Flanagan and Darren Tormay gave Callaghan's side a 2-7 to 1-6 interval lead. A '65' and a free from Mike Cole gave Rathmolyon hope after the break, but all that work was undone when Charlie Usher's low drive went through Dan Mulligan's legs and into the net for a 3-7 to 1-8 lead. The rest was academic. Joe Gantley responded with a point, but Gaeil Colmcille hit a fourth goal when Fionn Ferguson netted from close range to end the game as a contest with 21 minutes still remaining. Mike Cole's speculative shot deceived Murray and ended up in the net to give Rathmolyon false hope, but Gaeil Colmcille defended stoutly to hold what they had and maintain their senior status for another year. Gaeil Colmcille - C Murray; C Ferguson, M Foley, P Tormay; E O'Sullivan, B Smith, D Tormay (0-1); T Shine (1-2, penalty, two frees), D O'Neill; B Tormay, R Flanagan (0-1), S Reddy; F Ferguson (2-0), C Usher (1-1), B Murray (0-3, one free). Sub - N Flanagan for Reddy 46mins. Rathmolyon - D Mulligan; M Lynch, T Henderson, F Whelan; T Lynch, E Regan (0-1), G Doherty; N Fagan, A Fagan; T Cosgrave, G Cole (0-2), M Cole (1-4, two frees, two '65'); J Farrell (0-1), K Fagan (1-1), D Whelan (0-1). Subs - J Gantley (0-1) for N Fagan half-time, N Cole for Whelan 48mins, Referee - Richard Morris (Blackhall Gaels).