Third quarter blitz stuns Kells side as Dunshaughlin march on

Dunshaughlin 4-2-7 (23)

Gaeil Colmcille 2-1-9 (17)

Starring down the barrel of elimination from the SFC in the group stages, 2024 Keegan Cup champions Dunshaughlin resurrected their prospects thanks to a thrilling last quarter to overcome Gaeil Colmcille on Sunday evening in Devenish Park, Dunganny, writes Davy Rispin.

It was the ultimate act of brinksmanship from Richie Kealy’s side who found themselves three in arrears, needing to win by at least four points, approaching the final 15 minutes. Step forward Niall Byrne whose brace of goals in double quick time reignited the flame in the black and amber to help keep them firmly in the race.

It all started so well for the four-time winners with Aaron Murphy registering a hat-trick of points inside the opening three minutes. An Andrew Gormley free opened Gaeil Colmcille’s account three minutes later but Dunshaughlin fired home the game's opening goal shortly after. A long ball from David Fildes found Conor Duke who offloaded to the onrushing John McDonagh whose strike proved too powerful for Barry Farrelly to keep out.

Gormley and Murphy exchanged pointed frees in the 18th and 20th minutes before a calamity in the Dunshaughlin defence resulted in David Coldrick pointing to the penalty spot for a foul by Carrick McCarrick on Liam Ferguson. However, Ajay Tormey was brilliantly denied by Dunshaughlin stopper Tim O’Sullivan with the rebound palmed wide by the taker with the goal at his mercy.

To their credit, it did not deter the Kells men as Charlie Twomey and a two-pointer from Evan Sheridan had Conn Cleary’s charges back within two after 27 minutes, 1-4 to 0-5.

It was Dunshaughlin who finished the half stronger though and a sweetly struck two-point free from Duke along with further scores from Mathew Costello and Duke leaving their side six clear approaching the break. Gormley did convert a free on the stroke of half time to reduce the margin to five at the interval, 0-6 to 1-8.It was the Kells men who enjoyed a whirlwind start to the second half right from the throw-in. Captain Jordan Muldoon and Sheridan linked up to great effect before releasing Ferguson to rifle to the net despite the best attempts from McCarrick to keep the ball out.

It was the just the tonic for a rejuvenated Gaeil Colmcille side with Seamus Mattimoe and Conor Óg Ferguson pointing in quick succession to restore parity at 1-8 apiece.

Then the impressive Charlie O’Connor hit back with a sublime two-pointer against the run of play in an attempt to quell the dominance of the Kells side and retake the lead. Their joy was short-lived though as a quickfire brace from Tormey levelled the sides before Shane Callaghan unleashed a thunderbolt past O’Sullivan for Gaeil Colmcille’s second goal.

It looked bleak for the black and amber at that stage trailing by three approaching the final 15 minutes but step forward Niall Byrne. Haring forward with one object in mind, the raiding corner back produced two moments of sheer magic in the space of 60 seconds to turn the tide back in Dunshaughlin’s favour with two exquisite goals.

It looked for all the world like Byrne would secure the most unlikely of hat-tricks having found himself on the end of a beautiful sweeping Dunshaughlin move involving Duke and McDonagh. However, his palmed effort towards goals was brilliantly stopped by Barry Farrelly only for Jeff Foley to slam home the rebound off the underside of the crossbar for a third Dunshaughlin goal on the trot.

Costello pushed his side seven clear entering the final 10 minutes and try as they might, Gaeil Colmcille simply could not conjure a last gasp revival despite Liam Ferguson narrowly rifling over the bar as opposed to under with Dunshaughlin holding firm to set up a tantalising last eight meeting with Ratoath.

Dunshaughlin : Tim O’Sullivan; Fursey Blake, David Fildes, Niall Byrne (2-0); Ciaran McCarrick, Jared Rushe, Adam Kealy; Charlie O’Connor (0-2 one two-pointer), Ryan Robinson; John McDonagh (1-0), Conor Duke (0-3 one two-point free), Mathew Costello (0-2); Tadhg Ó Dushláine, Ben Duggan, Aaron Murphy (0-4 one free). Subs : Luke Mitchell for Ó Dushláine 33m, Jeff Foley (1-0) for Duggan 36m, Fiach Hartigan for Robinson 46m,Colm Keane for Byrne 51m, Niall Murphy for Blake 57m.

Gaeil Colmcille : Barry Farrelly; Fionn Smith, Rian Early, Adam Muldoon; John Gormley, Jordan Muldoon, Dan Farrelly; Liam Ferguson (1-1), Seamus Mattimoe (0-1); Barry Tormay, Ajay Tormey (0-2), Conor Óg Ferguson (0-1); Evan Sheridan (0-2 one two-pointer), Andrew Gormley (0-3 frees), Charlie Twomey (0-1). Subs : Oisin Reilly for Tormay 28m, Shane Callaghan (1-0) for D Farrelly half-time, Aaron Browne for Twomey 41m, Johnny Quigley for Sheridan 53m, Ryan Farnham for Tormey 54m, Liam Barry for Reilly 55m.

Referee : David Coldrick (Blackhall Gaels).