Gaeil Colmcille 0-13 Donaghmore/Ashbourne 1-09

Getting the two points is all that matters and that’s what Gaeil Colmcille did with the slenderest of wins over Donaghmore/Ashbourne in Walterstown on Saturday evening. Credit to Meath’s All Blacks for having their ground in top order ahead of today’s match. 

Both sides had a slow start and it wasn’t until three minutes in before the first real chance and it came to The Moors but Kells Goalkeeper Barry Farrelly produced a fine save to keep the game scoreless.  Donaghmore/Ashbourne did manage to get the opening score shortly after but it would turn out to be the only time they would throughout the game after Aaron Browne replied with a two pointer from around the 45 metre line. 

Kells stretched their lead to three points with their second two pointer in as many minutes, this time Seamus Mattimoe putting his head down and striking through the ball to raise the Orange flag. Donaghmore/Ashbourne struck for two points in a row but Mattimoe free restored a two point lead for Kells. 

Donaghmore/Ashbourne were back on level terms in the 27th minute when the hit two points in quick succession but Gaeil Colmcille finished the half the stronger and Evan Sheridan pointed to allow Kells to regain the lead and it looked like The Gaeils could have been four clear after John Gormley saw effort go low and wide although the wing back knew their was an advantage being played in which Mattimoe made no mistake to close out the half Gaeil Colmcille 0-07 Donaghmore/Ashbourne 0-05

Missed opportunities summed up the second half with both sides squandering a large number of chances. Donaghmore/Ashbourne’s first three chances of the half went wide and then in the 35th minute Ajay Tormey found Andrew Gormley inside and he danced around the Donaghmore/Ashbourne defence to slot over. 

From the resulting kickout, Andrew Colgan picked out an unmarked Andrew Tormey and within three passes the ball was palmed into the back of the net for the only goal of the game to draw The Moors level. Gaeil Colmcilles build up was controlled after the goal and patience allowed them to restore their three point lead with points from Mattimoe, substitute Charlie Twomey who was immense when coming on and a Gormley free. 

Kells had a chance to seal the game when John Gormley was taken down for a penalty but Coogan was equal to Ajay Tormey’s penalty and dived low to his left to keep Donaghmore/Ashbourne in the game. That lifted Donaghmore/Ashbourne and the hit two points in a row to get between one of Kells. 

Gormley added a free to see Kells lead again by 1 but a monster two pointer for The Moors drew the teams level with 60 minutes on the clock. Referee Robert Puirfield signalled five minutes on injury time and in the third minute Gaeil Colmcille took the lead again thanks to another Gormley free. 

This was not the end of the story as in the final few minutes both teams coughed up chances to win the game. Colgan missed a two pointer free for The Moors which went an inch wide and Kells had two great chances from Conor Óg Ferguson and Ryan Farnham which allowed Donaghmore/Ashbourne one more chance but a high ball into the forwards was dropped by substitute Michael Deegan who looked for a free and Kells worked the ball up the pitch and was greeted to the sound of the full time whistle to the large roar of the Kells crowd. 

Special note to Conor Óg Ferguson and Charlie Twomey who made their Championship debuts both putting in stellar shifts. 

Gaeil Colmcille: Barry Farrelly, Adam Muldoon, Rian Early, Fionn Smith, John Gormley, Jordan Muldoon, Dan Farrelly, Liam Ferguson, Aaron Browne (0-02), Barry Tormay, Ajay Tormey, Conor Óg Ferguson, Evan Sheridan (0-01), Andrew Gormley (0-04), Seamus Mattimoe (0-05)

Subs: Charlie Twomey (0-01), Shane Callaghan, Ryan Farnham, Oisin Reilly

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