Gaeil Colmcille win league title

The pride of the parish was always going to be maintained when Gaeil Colmcille clashed with Kilmainham in the A FL Div 3 decider for the Cummins Cup at Sean Newman Park, Bohermeen on Sunday. The parish rivals brought a big crowd to the well-appointed venue and as the spectators basked in the October sunshine the Gaeil Colmcille players dispensed an early footballing lesson to their neighbours. However, it didn't last for 60 minutes and they then had to survive a spirited revival by the side that went into the game with one trophy already on their sideboard. Kilmainham won the Tailteann Cup a couple of weeks ago which provided some compensation for their disappointing quarter-final exit from the JFC against Navan O'Mahonys at Athboy at the end of August. Gaeil Colmcille had the more recent memories of a second-half IFC final fade-out against Moynalvey to contend with and that certainly gave them an extra incentive to win this game. They were in front all the way except for a brief period in the opening half when Kilmainham's Danny Butler cancelled Seanie Curran's opening point for Gaeil Colmcille. Parity remained until the end of the first-quarter as Gaeil Colmcille tallied four wides before Martin Barrett, who was an effective target man at full-forward, and Brian Hanlon each hit the target inside a minute. That got an immediate response with Gavin Butler embarking on a solo raid for Kilmainham before splitting the posts to leave the minimum in it. Gaeil Colmcille conjured up further points from play by Danny McGovern and Justin Carry-Lynch on the way to a 0-5 to 0-3 interval advantage with Butler closing Kilmainham's first-half account. Kilmainham, who were under a lot of pressure during that opening half, could have been on level terms at the break, but they were denied by the woodwork on two occasions. Gaeil Colmcille upped the tempo after the resumption with Carry-Lynch particularly effective at midfield. McGovern added his second point and then initiated the move that produced an opportunistic Stevie McManus goal with Mickey Foley also involved. Barrett, McGovern and Carry-Lynch added points for a rampant Gaeil Colmcille side who took a 1-9 to 0-3 advantage into the final quarter. Kilmainham displayed commendable character and deservedly got back into contention with Michael Newman displaying some of his old form. Newman converted a '45' and a free and Butler also split the posts before Trevor Lynch's goalbound effort was spectacularly turned away by Gaeil Colmcille defender Declan Smith at the expense of a '45' that Newman converted. That left Kilmainham adrift by 0-7 to 1-9 with five minutes remaining and under-pressure Gaeil Colmcille were relieved when Carry-Lynch raised a white flag afater good approach play from Keith Reilly, McGovern and Barrett. That was a vital point and it derailed the Kilmainham challenge. Nevertheless, Kilmainham kept battling until the final whistle and will take some positives out of the game, the main one being a place in the A FL Div 2 next year where they will surely enhance their JFC prospects against some very strong teams. Gaeil Colmcille will also benefit from a higher grade of football and taking the trophy back to the town will surely whet the appetite for more success, like the 2012 IFC title. Gaeil Colmcille - D Drew; B Tormey, R Flanagan, D Smith; C Finn, B Smith, M Foley; P Ward, J Carry-Lynch (0-3); G Arkins, S McManus (1-0), S Curran (0-1); B Hanlon (0-1), M Barrett (0-3), D McGovern (0-3). Subs - K Reilly for Arkins 43 mins, S Mattimoe for McManus 50m. P Tormay for B Smith 58m, S Reddy for McGovern and A Hickey for Finn 59m. Kilmainham - K Jordan; S Mahon, H Newman, J Quigley; M Fallon, G Morgan, S Morgan; G Butler (0-2), B Lynch; S Butler, T Lynch, S Brosnan; P Curran, M Newman (0-4 two frees, two '45s'), D Butler (0-3). Subs - D Farnan for Brosnan half-time, J Mahon for Curran 51 mins. Referee - John O'Byrne (St Patrick's).