St. Michaels 1-20, Blackhall Gaels 2-13     

St. Michaels produced a gritty performance which was sprinkled with real moments of quality to bag the two points on offer at the expense of a gutsy Blackhall Gaels side in Carlanstown on Thursday evening.

A brilliantly struck goal at the end of the first quarter from top scorer on the night Declan Reilly turned out to be the winning score and the St. Michaels lads proved very efficient in front of the posts in the opening half as a well struck two pointer free from Shane McDonnell after only two minutes got them off the mark. Reilly, McDonnell and Matt Moriarty all added minors before the visitors got off the mark on 12 minutes with a point from play. Then a well placed ball from Scott Doyle put the in-form Declan Reilly through on goal and he blasted to the net from 10 meters for a 1-5 to 0-1 lead.   

Matthew Halpin and Reilly both added 2 pointers, while McDonnell tapped over from a free to give his side a healthy six point lead at the short whistle, 1-12 to 1-06. The Gaels found the back of the St. Michaels net for their opening major on 25 minutes to reduce the deficit to nine points.                                                

The new half was only two minutes old when roaming half back Brian O'Reilly tapped over for the opening score, this was followed by another fine McDonnell effort before Blackhall Gaels took control and enjoyed their best spell of the match putting 1-4 on the board without a reply from their hosts, their second goal coming on 33 minutes.
Two minors in as many minutes from Shane McDonnell settled his side before substitute Diarmuid O'Malley opened his account at the end of the third quarter. Blackhall never gave up and added two 2 pointers and a converted free but further points from Reilly, McDonnell and O'Reilly sealed the deal for the homesteaders           

St. Michaels team and scorers: Graham Dooner: Ryan Gaffney, Sam Briody, Jack Griffin; Daniel Murphy, Brian O'Reilly (0-2), Matt Moriarty (0-1); Cian Sheridan, Matthew Halpin (1x2p); Declan Reilly (1-6 1x2p), Shane McDonnell (0-8 1x2p), Paddy Tobin; Scott Doyle, Lee Morris, Cian McFadden.                                                                 

Subs used:  Diarmuid O'Malley (0-1), Robbie Briody & Brian Reilly                                                                                   

Referee: Adrian Corcoran

Match report and photo: Pascal Reilly PRO.                                                 

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