Dunshaughlin 0-11 St. Colmcilles 1-7 

Despite heavy rain which started just before the throw-in and continued through most of the game making conditions underfoot very difficult, it did not deter both teams from providing a highly entertaining game. The winning score came deep into injury time, a free from man of the match Mathew Costello. The game looked destined to go to extra time when just prior to Costello’s point, St Colmcilles had levelled the game which completed a four point comeback. 

Both sides found it difficult to conjure a score in the first ten minutes, both hitting wides and having shots dropping short while attempting to take the lead. The first point of the game came from Cilles full forward Adam Daly in the 11th minute. Dunshaughlin equalised two minutes later through Costello. The score at the first water break was one point a piece. There were great duals throughout the pitch as both teams got to know each other.

Dunshaughlin’s Cathal Mc Cormack put Dunshaughlin ahead midway through the 2nd quarter with a well taken point. From the resultant  kick out St. Colmcilles broke through for a goal. That was to be the Cilles last score of the half as it appeared to give a sense of urgency to Dunshaughlin who had levelled the game by the break with two points (1f) from Costello. Halftime Dunshaughlin 0-5. St. Colmcilles 1-2.

Ruairi Kinsella regained the lead for the home team with a brilliant long range point in the 2nd minute of the 2nd half. The Cilles drew level with a pointed free two minutes later. Dunshaughlin then went two ahead with another Costello point and a free from Luke Mitchell leaving it 0-8 to 1-3 at the 2nd water break.
Towards the end of the third quarter Cilles were reduced to 14 players with a straight red card to Daly.
In that third quarter Costello was very unlucky on two occasions not to score goals, one brilliantly saved by the Cilles keeper Danny Ehichoya out for a forty-five and the other a rasping shot denied by the crossbar. 

The referee decided to call the 2nd water break before that forty five was to be taken. 2nd water break, Dunshaughlin 0-8. St. Colmcilles 1-3. Costello kicked the forty five short to  Kinsella who put the ball over the bar for his second point. Costello put four between the sides in the 21st minute with a converted free. Just when it looked like Dunshaughlin were going to pull away the Cilles staged a revival and scored three unanswered points between the 23rd and 27th minute  which included two frees from David Bell.

It made the final minutes very tense with Dunshaughlin holding onto their one point lead for their dear lives with some heroic defending. St Colmcilles perseverance paid off when they levelled  two minutes into injury time with a point which almost everyone present thought meant extra time, however Dunshaughlin goalkeeper Gary O’ Connor restarted quickly, found substitute Aiden Fraher, who despite been under severe pressure got it forward to that man Costello, who was taken down on his approach towards goal and from his resultant free clinched victory at the death for Dunshaughlin.

This was a great team performance from this young Dunshaughlin team in what definitely felt like full on championship football. As everyone played so well and worked so hard it is very hard to pick out individual performances but along with Costello up front, all the backs deserve a particular mention given they kept a potent forward sector to only eight scores for the whole game especially Ciaran McCarrick, Fursey Blake, Ordhan O’ Riordan & Jared Rushe and also this years two minors Charlie O’ Connor and Alex Arkins who played brilliantly. St Colmcilles lined out with three members of the one family, Danny, Godfrey & Ende Ehichoya.

Dunshaughlin now face Summerhill next weekend in the semi final.

Dunshaughlin scorers: Mathew Costello 0-7(4f), Ruairi Kinsella 0-2, Luke Mitchell 0-1, Cathal McCormack 0-1.

Dunshaughlin: Gary O’ Connor, Odhran O’ Riordan, Charlie O’ Connor, Fursey Blake, Jared Rushe, Ciaran McCarrick, Bill Jennings, Brian Clinton, John McDonagh, Ruairi Kinsella, Mathew Costello, Cathal McCormack, Luke Mitchell, Aaron Murphy   
Subs :  Calum Deehan for Charlie O’ Connor, Kevin Bawle for Arkins, Aiden Fraher for O’ Riordan, 
Jack Nestor, Luke McCarthy, Paul Keane, Daragh Byrne, Darren Murphy, Jack O’ Riordan, Colm Keane, Conor Duke, Adam Hanley, Moustafa Saodan, Cillian McCool, Jeff Wall, Thomas Reilly, Kyle O’ Connor, James Traynor, Conor Gray.

St. Colmcilles: Danny Ehichoya, Sean Horan, Hugo Collins, Jamie Duffy, Godfrey Ehichoya, Ruairi Hanlon, Carolan Nulty, Stephen Breen, Adam McCabe, Luke Brady, Liam Stafford, Endy Ehichoya, Sean O Donoghue, Adam Daly, Ferdia Quigley.
Subs used: David Bell, Oisin O Muruchu
Thanks to Frank Gallogly for providing photos.
 

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