SFC: Second half goals end Gaeil Colmcille's season

Shane Callaghan celebrates after scoring Gaeil Colmcille's second goal during their SFC round 3 clash with Dunshaughlin at Dunganny

Gaeil Colmcille 2-11 Dunshaughlin & Royal Gaels 4-11

Goals wins games is the saying and that proved the case at Devenish Park on Sunday afternoon as Dunshaughlin's three goals in a 6 minute spell saw them advance to the knockout stages of the Fairyhouse Steel Meath Senior Football Championship.

Dunshaughlin & Royal Gaels got off to the best start and led 1-03 to 0-01 with just 11 minutes played after Aaron Murphy gathered a loose ball that Barry Farrelly saved from John McDonagh's initial shot to get the opening goal of the game. Andrew Gormley and Murphy exchanged points before Ajay Tormey had a chance to cut the lead to two points after Liam Fergsuon was bundled over but Tim O'sullivan was equal to the effort diving low to his right and Tormey missed the follow up handpassing the ball to the right and wide.

Credit to Kells their response was good as Charlie Twomey pointed and Evan Sheridan followed up with a two pointer to cut the lead to the two points. Conor Duke took full advantage of Kells indiscipline after David Coldrick brought forward a free and Duke nailed a two point free. Matthew Costello and Gormley traded the final two scores of the half to see Dunshaughlin lead 1-08 to 0-06.

Kells got the best possible start to the second half when Liam Ferguson fired to the back of the net for Kells first goal and that was quickly followed by a Seamus Mattimoe and Conor Óg Ferguson points to see the teams level with 32 minutes played. Dunshaughlin got the best response with a two pointer from Charlie O'Connor but Kells were level once again when Ajay Tormey popped over two points in quick succession to see the teams level once again.

Kells led for the first time in the game when second half substitute Shane Callaghan done excellent to find the back of the net from an acute angle. Gaeil Colmcille's lead barely lasted one minute as two quick fire goals from Niall Byrne saw Dunshaughlin back in the lead and a point was followed by a fourth goal, this time Jeff Foley getting on the end to see The Black and Ambers lead by 7 with just over 10 minutes remaining.

Neither side could find the target in the next ten minutes with Kells racking up the wides and with the clock heading for 60 minutes Liam Ferguson had a brilliant chance for a second goal but his effort went over the bar. As Kells went in search of a goal that would have seen them through at Dunshaughlin's expense, time ran out and Referee Coldrick blew up for the end of Kells year.

Gaeil Colmcille: Barry Farrelly, Adam Muldoon, Rian Early, Fionn Smith, John Gormley, Jordan Muldoon, Daniel Farrelly, Liam Ferguson (1-00), Seamus Mattimoe (0-01), Barry Tormay, Ajay Tormey (0-02), Conor Óg Ferguson (0-01), Evan Sheridan (0-02), Andrew Gormley (0-03), Charlie Twomey (0-01)

Subs: Oisin Reilly, Shane Callaghan (1-00), Liam Barry, Ryan Farnham, Jonny Quigley