Gaeil Colmcille and Simonstown met in the opening fixture of the LMFM Minor Football League Division 2. This would be the first game for these sides in their own age grade since late 2019.
Simonstown started smartly and broke the line of defence and the forward got taken down inside the penalty area and referee Kieran Olwell raised his hands and signaled for a spot kick. Up stepped the Simonstown full-forward but Kells keeper Glen Gavigan was equal to the task saving the penalty. From the rebound Gavigan kept the forward out once again.
Gaeil Colmcille got the opening score of the game when wing-forward Andrew Butler sailed over with his trusty left boot. Butler soon followed that up with a pointed free on six minutes to double the Gaeils lead. With seven minutes on the clock Simonstown looked certain to hit the back of the net but once again Gavigan saved excellently to keep Kells ahead.
Simonstown needed two frees in the 14th and 17th minute just before the water break to draw level with Gaeil Colmcille. Kells soon regained the lead with good work from Sean Thornton on the end line, Thornton, who was playing in the unusual position of full-forward compared to his usual goalkeeping position, Thornton squared to Harry Flanagan and Flanagan popped the ball over the bar.
On 24 minutes, Simonstown were level but two frees from Butler gave Kells a 0-05 to 0-03 lead as the half drew to a close. There was still time for a lead change and a quick 1-01 without reply for the visitors gave Simonstown a 1-04 to 0-05 lead at Half-Time.
Simonstown got off to the perfect start in the second half as the score the opening two points to extend their lead to four points, the largest lead of the game by either team. for the next six minutes it was all Gaeil Colmcille, the Gaeils created two great goal scoring opportunities, the first from David Butler but his effort was saved, the next came from Thornton who was having an astounding game at full-forward. Thornton gathered the ball and a goal was on the cards but he had to settle for a point as he blasted over the bar.
The gap was reduced to two points with another free from Butler and then Harry Flanagan struck for two goals. The first goal came in the in the 38th minute when Thornton squared to Flanagan and he smartly slapped the ball beyond the keeper. From the resulting kickout, Andrew Butler won the dual and played Flanagan through where he kept his shot low and the ball hit the left upright and into the back of the bet to see Kells lead 2-07 to 1-06.
Within three minutes and Simonstown were level with a free-kick and a well worked goal to see the sides with 2-07 a piece. As the game ebbed and flowed both sides shared the next four points with a Butler free and a second point for Thornton. Gaeil Colmcille took the lead once again with 10 minutes left on the clock as Liam Barry struck over the bar. Simonstown looked to claw that lead back but for a heroic block by Rian Early.
Disaster struck for Kells as they conceded a goal in the 54th minute but patience and hard work from the combined team seen two frees from Butler level up the scores and give each a share of the spoils. After the game Sean Thornton spoke to The Gaeils Podcast which will be available on next weeks episode. Hard not to mention all the 16 lads who gave it there to produce a stunning result.
Gaeil Colmcile: Glen Gavigan, Conall McGovern, Kristapus Vitkausus, Michael O’Byrne, Rian Early, Finn Mullan, Finn Tegetmeier, Oisin O’Reilly, Kevin Carpenter, Andrew Butler (0-08), David Butler, Liam Barry (0-01), Harry Flanagan (2-01), Sean Thornton (0-02), Aaron Glynn.
Subs: Bruno Griffin
Photo © Declan Lynch Meath Pics
