Gaeil Colmcille 1-16 
Na Fianna 1-8

Na Fianna senior footballers suffered their first defeat in the 2015 hoganstand.com Meath SFC with an 8 point defeat to a strong Gaeil Colmcille outfit at a sunny Sumerhill ground on Sunday afternoon. The Kells outfit fully deserved their victory on the day in a hard fought game.

It was Na Fianna who started the livelier with a well worked point from Dalton McDonagh after just 1 minute. Kells replied 2 minutes later with a point of their own to level the game. Dan Queeney pointed a free for Na Fianna then after Dalton McDonagh was fouled. Kells responded again with a pointed free from the lively Brian Hanlon. In the 10th minute good forward interplay by Mikey Collins and Dean Barrett set up Barry Clancy. He was brought down on the 21 and Shane Barrett pointed the resulting free.

Gaeil Colmcille then responded with 3 points in succession to go into a 2 point lead, 5 points to 3.Then in the 16th minute following good work from Dean Barrett again and Mikey Collins, Dalton Mcdonagh broke through the Kells defence but his powerful shot struck the crossbar and ricocheted out wide. Na Fianna drove another wide thereafter before Kells  scored 2 more points to leave 4 points between the team 7 points to 3. This was a decisive period in the game and helped Kells to gather momentum. A minute before half time Damian Downey found James Gegan and he slotted over a much needed point for Eamon Barry's men. On the stroke of half time Kells full forward Brian Hanlon slotted over another free to leave the half time score Kells 0-8 Na Fianna 0-4.

Gaeil Colmcille started impressively in the second half with an early point from wing forward Seamus Mattimoe. Then an excellent pass from Dan Queeney found Dean Barrett and he fired over for Na Fianna. Then more good work from Dean Barrett and his brother Shane set up Barry Clancy to point again. Kells responded again with another point from play by the impressive Mattimoe.  Moments later Barry Clancy was fouled in the penalty area and the ref pointed to the spot. Dalton McDonagh stepped up to take the kick, but his effort was well saved by  Kells goalie Justin Carry-Lynch. This spurred Kells on  and they hit 2 quick points in succession before Dalton McDonagh responded for Na Fianna. Then Na Fianna sub Andy Glynn pointed after a good pass from Dean Barrett.

Then a crucial score in the game. Kells forward Oisin Reilly gathered possession, turned and blasted the ball to the net to put Kells firmly in the driving seat. Kells scored 3 more points in succession to end the match as a contest. To cap off a dismal day for the Na Fianna men Christy Cosgrave received a 2nd yellow and had to leave the field. Kells pointed the resulting free, before a Damian Downey lobbing ball found the net for Na Fianna at the death.
Na Fianna were without the injured Jamie Queeney and Conor Downey on the day but will be disappointed still in the manner of the defeat.

Best for Na Fianna on a day they didn't perform to their potential were Dean Barrett, Brian Queeney, Dalton McDonagh  and Damian Downey.

Best for Gaeil Colmcille were Robbie Flanagan, Liam Ferguson, Brian Hanlon, Oisin Reilly, and Seamus Mattimoe.

Gaeil Colmcille: Justin Carry Lynch, Barry Tormey, Robbie Flanagan, Liam Ferguson, Paul Tormey, Barry Smith, James Reilly, Keith Reilly, Cormac Keegan 0-2, Seamus Mattimoe 0-5, Martin Barrett 0-1, Seanie Curran 0-1, Oisin Reilly 1-1, Brian Hanlon 0-6, Stevie McManus. Subs: Mark Fox and Stephen Reddy.

Na Fianna Scorers:  Damian Downey 1-0 D McDonagh 0-2 Dan Queeney 0-2 B Clancy 0-1, J Gegan 0-1, Shane Barrett 0-1, A Glynn 0-1

Na Fianna: S Geraghty, J Baldwin, C Cosgrave, D Gleeson, E Hendrick, A Neary, D Downey, D Queeney, B Queeney, J Gegan, D Barrett, Mikey Collins, B Clancy,  S Barrett
Subs: Andy Glynn for Shane Barrett (inj), H Silk for B Clancy.

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