Gaeil Colmcille shade the verdict
IF Gaeil Colmcille eventually go on to lift the Keegan Cup they will hardly encounter a much more difficult hurdle than the one posed by St Colmcille's at Drumconrath this evening writes SEAN WALL.
Lar Wall's side ended deserving winners by 1-17 to 1-12, but the scoreline hardly does justice to a youthful east Meath outfit who put it up their more experienced opponents for much of the hour.
With James Conlon causing the Gaeil Colmcille defence plenty of headaches the Seasiders had raced into a 0-8 to 0-4 lead by the 27th minute.
The out-of-sorts Kells men got it back to 0-8 to 0-6 by the end of the half following points from Danny McGovern and Brian Hanlon.
By the mid-point of the third quarter Gaeil Colmcille had gained parity following a Seamus Mattimoe point. They then went ahead for the first time through a Martin Barrett point.
That lead doubled by the 40th minute and they eventually went three clear.
James Conlon kept his side in contention with a point and when youngster David Bell side-footed to the net Cille's were back in front, 1-11 to 0-13 after 43 minutes.
Points from Hanlon and Barrett restored the lead for Gaeil Colmcille at the three quarter way stage.
Disaster struck for Cille's early in the final quarter when a misdirected free in their own defence went straight to Mattimoe who rattled the net.
Mattimoe and Fionn Reilly added further points as the Cille's challenge ran out of steam in the closing stages.
SCORERS
Gaeil Colmcille - Seamus Mattimoe 1-3; Brian Hanlon 0-5 three frees, one mark; Martin Barrett 0-3; Danny McGovern 0-2; Conall Courtney 0-1; Fionn Reilly 0-1; Evan Sheridan 0-1; Keith Reilly 0-1.
St Colmcille's - James Conlon 0-7; David Bell 1-0; Jack Reynolds 0-2; Cathal Hilliard 0-1; Conor O'Byrne 0-1; Graham Reilly 0-1.
TEAMS
Gaeil Colmcille - Justin Carry Lynch; Jordan Muldoon, Paul Tormay, James Reilly; Conall Courtney, Seanie Curran, Fionn Reilly; Philip Ward, Oisin Reilly; Evan Sheridan, Keith Reilly, Seamus Mattimoe; Martin Barrett, Danny McGovern, Brian Hanlon. Subs - Johnny Quigley for McGovern 43 mins, Liam Ferguson for K Reilly 45m, Cian Doogan for Ward 49m, Adam Muldoon for Sheridan 52m, Ryan Farnham for Barrett 56m.
St Colmcille's - Andrew Beakey; Adam Lynch, Danny McMahon, Tomas O Hoistin; Matthew Breen, Cathal Hilliard, Stephen Breen; Conor O'Byrne, Ruairi O'Grady; Jack Reynolds, Graham Reilly, Jeff Kavanagh; Ben Brennan, James Conlon, David Bell. Subs - Luke Brady for Kavanagh 45 mins, Ciaran Kelly for Bell 49m, Carl Mullan for M Breen 52m, Fearghal Walsh for Reynolds 56m.
Referee - Liam O'Brien (Duleek-Bellewstown)
PHOTO
HEADFORT ARMS HOTEL 21 YEARS SUPPORTING GAEIL COLMCILLE
Now in their 21st consecutive year as main club sponsor, Gaeil Colmcille would like thank Vincent, Olivia and the Duff family at the Headfort Arms Hotel for their continued and valued support of the club.
Pictured outside the Headfort Arms earlier this week were Brian Hanlon, Liam Ferguson, Vincent Duff (Headfort Arms Hotel) Oisin Reilly and John Morris.