Manager Justin Carry-Lynch along with his right hand man Timmy Reddy had the tough task of picking 15 players from the well turned out panel of 21 when they made the trip to Paddy O’Brien Park to face O’Mahony’s, the team was in good spirits despite the usual lads getting shafted.
The home side started the strongest and got the opening score of the match before Gaeil Colmcille executioner Gary Arkins scored his first of 12 points on another fantastic day for the club. Arkins, who disputed his overall tally from The Vincent’s game was taking no chances tonight and brought an official adjudicator from KPMG with him to keep score. Kells did battle hard for scores and on another day corner forward and firefighter Barry Balfe could have had at least 2-02 but instead he seen one shot blocked, one shot cleared off the line, one in the O’Mahony’s clubhouse and one ball in the Aldi Car Park.
Navan O’Mahonys pace showed early on as they pushed clear with three points in a row and when they found the back of the net on 14 minutes it looked like it was going to be a long night for the Gaeils. Although two minutes later Kells were back in the game when a high ball into the Arkins who was lining out at full-forward, caused problems and the O’Mahony’s keeper came but aul clever head Arkins beat him to it and flicked to the back of the net.
Both sides traded scores late on and O’Mahony’s went into the Half-Time break 1-07 to 1-03 up.
Carry-Lynch and Reddy discussed changes at the break and called on Darren Tormay to replace in the injured Robbie “The Butcher Boy” Fox and Phili “Superman” Ward to come in for the hard working Stephen Mooney. The changes had an immediate impact with the Gaeils getting level inside the opening five minutes of the half with Arkins pointing and then following up with a rocket of a goal from the 21 yard line leaving the O’Mahony’s keeper no chance.
O’Mahony’s found their rhythm once more and again pushed 4 points clear and could easily have been more only for some good goalkeeping from James (brother of Robbie) Flanagan saves. Gary McGovern got a beautiful score with the left in the 39th minute and those in Paddy O’Brien Park could hear The Gov commentating to himself in his Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh voice as he chipped it over the bar.
With the Gaeils backs against the wall, Carry-Lynch called on Alan Tormey and Stephen Quigley to save the lads (again) and both made instant impacts, Tormey gathered a breaking ball about 50 yards out and stuck it straight over the black spot against a stiff breeze as four men were charging down on him*
*Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.
Arkins added a free and as Kells started dominating in midfield, Ward was fielding some John McDermott like catches and the visitors kept applying pressure to the Navan O’Mahony’s backs in search for the equalizing score.
As the clock ticked into the red, up stepped Arkins to draw the sides level and as the ball sailed over the bar he took his phone out of his sock and tweeted “That ones for you, my private sector friends” to a big roar from the Gaeil Colmcille bench
A Navan O’Mahony’s player suffered a bad injury and was forced off and unfortunately for them they had no replacement to bring on. Kells with the numerical advantage sensed victory and Stephen Quigley, who was still wearing the white boots from the last day gained possession of the ball from a Shane Bennett pass and pointed to see Kells take the lead for the very first time in the 7th minute of injury time, Quigley shouting “make sure you put that in the report that Quigley saves the day”. Ward fielded from the resulting kick-out and played the ball into Balfe who delicately flicked the ball to the on-rushing Jordan Muldoon who glided through on goal and popped the ball over the bar.
Ward fielded again the next kick-out with a Lazarus like catch and this time laid the ball off to McGovern who, with the outside of the right hit the insurance point to give The Gaeils the win and keep them in second in the table as they close in on a place in the final against Kilbride.
Gaeil Colmcille: James Flanagan, Darren O’Connell, Liam Byrne, Eanna Ryan, Robbie Fox, Jonathan Hogg, Stephen Mooney, Mark Fox, Shane Bennett, Niall Williams, Jordan Muldoon (0-01), Ben Farrelly, Barry Balfe, Gary Arkins (2-06), Gary McGovern (0-02).
Subs: Darren Tormay, Philip Ward, Alan Tormey (0-01), Stephen Quigley II (0-01), N Lynch, L Farrell
Photo credit: Hoganstand
