Cille's save their best for last to secure senior status

SFC RELEGATION FINAL

St Colmcille’s .................1-3-9 (18)

Meath Hill .......................0-0-7 (7)

SEAN WALL

MEATH HILL’S maiden voyage in senior ranks was torpedoed in this SFC relegation final at Dunganny on Friday evening.

Sank without trace you could almost say as the north Meath newcomers looked every bit the novices in what turned out to be a much easier than anticipated win for St Colmcille’s as they comfortably retained their senior status.

The passion, commitment and drive that had propelled Meath Hill to a first-ever intermediate title success in 2024 was rarely evident at any stage and it was a mostly the young Cille’s outfit that brought all those attributes to the table for this crucial clash.

The Hill were outmanoeuvred and outfought in virtually every sector of the pitch by a Cille’s side that produced a performance that was unrecognisable from what they had shown all year.

Victory was built on a rock solid defence which never allowed the Meath Hill attack the time or the space to create clear-cut opportunities.

Cille’s also enjoyed supremacy around the middle third where Ruairi O’Grady was outstanding and created the openings in attack for the impressive Aaron Grant, Shaun Leonard and Cormac O’Donoghue.

Cille’s started nervously with two early wides and they trailed to a Gary Breslin point on three minutes. Veteran Ben Brennan drew the sides’ level and the east Meath outfit were never headed after David Bell pointed them ahead on eight minutes.

Boosted by two two-pointer frees from goalkeeper Andrew Beakey they led 0-9 to 0-3 at half-time and were full value for that six point interval lead.

The Hill laboured in most areas but especially in attack where they had possession turned over time and again. Breslin from a free and Pierce McGrath in added time completed their side's first half tally.

Meath Hill needed something special at the start of the second half to have a chance but instead it was Cille’s who produced it with a driving run from Eoin Gillick setting up Aaron Grant for a brilliant goal.

Jack Gillen responded with a point for Meath Hill but further scores from Cormac O’Donoghue, Leonard (two) and another two-pointer free from Beakey had Cille’s 1-14 to 0-5 clear and out of sight at the three quarter way stage.

Captain James Mooney did his utmost to get Meath Hill back into contention with some penetrating runs but there was no way past that resolute Cille’s rearguard.

Pointed frees from Breslin and sub Mark Tully was all Meath Hill had to show for their efforts in the final quarter as they enjoyed their fair share of possession. It was another veteran Graham Reilly who capped a great night for Cille’s with the final point in added time.

St Colmcille’s – Andrew Beakey (0-6 three two-point frees); Cathal Monaghan, Luke O’Brien, Liam Leahy; Eoin Gillick, Liam Stafford (0-1), Adam Lynch; Stephen Breen, Ruairi O’Grady; Shaun Leonard (0-2), Sean O’Donoghue, David Bell (0-2 one free); Cormac O’Donoghue (0-1), Aaron Grant (1-1), Ben Brennan (0-1). Subs – Jack Reynolds for S O’Donoghue half-time, Luke Conlon for Bell 46m, Graham Reilly (0-1) for Breen 53m, James McCullen for Lynch 54m, Oisin Brennan for Gillick 59m.

Meath Hill – Dominic Yorke; Thomas Carolan, Jamie Slavin, Matthew Carolan; Patrick Matthews, Conor Marry, Damien Turley; Jack Slavin, Ryan Owens; Cormac Sheehy, Jack McMahon, Jake Gillen (0-1); James Mooney, Pierce McGrath (0-1), Gary Breslin (0-4 one free). Subs – Sean Owens for McGrath, Andy Monaghan for Matthews both half-time, Peter Griffin for Gillen 39m, Mark Tully (0-1 free) for M Carolan 53m.

Referee – Bernard Heaney (Clann na nGael).