All eyes from the players and management were on their phones on whether Wednesday evenings A League 1A match would go ahead. Credit to the Donaghmore/Ashbourne Ground Staff the game got the go ahead for the 8pm throw-in. It was the Kells men who continued their good start to the League campaign as they ran out four point winners.
The visitors got off to the perfect start despite playing into a gale force wind as a Barry Farrelly free was soon followed by a goal from Fionn Reilly after Brian Hanlon smartly picked out Reilly who made no mistake to blast to the back of the net. Donaghmore/Ashbourne replied with two pointed frees to halve Kells lead leaving it 1-01 to 0-02 with 9 minutes played.
Fionn Ferguson added a score for Gaeil Colmcille three minutes later with a super score off Ferguson’s left boot. The Moore’s response to Ferguson’s score was sublime as the struck for a goal and two points to take the lead for the first time in the game leading 1-04 to 1-02. That lead lasted all but four minutes as Fionn Reilly grabbed his and Gaeil Colmcille’s second goal of the game in the 20th minute after a strong run down the centre, Reilly struck to the top corner of the net leaving no hope for the Donaghmore/Ashbourne keeper.
As the game ebbed and flowed, Donaghmore/Ashbourne once again took the lead with two points in a row in the 22nd and 23rd minutes before Beano Hanlon leveled things up with a point from a free as the half drew to a close. There was still time for one more score and it was Donaghmore/Ashbourne who got it and took the slenderest of leads int0 half-time leading 1-07 to 2-03.
Gaeil Colmcille flew out of the blocks for the second half with Ferguson adding to his fine score in the first half with another excellent effort at the start of the second half and that was followed by a Seamus Mattimoe point to see Kells go in front once more. All of Gaeil Colmcille quick start was undone in the 34th minute when The Moor’s got in for their second goal to lead 2-07 to 2-05.
Kells now playing with the aid of the stiff breeze in their backs rattled off the next 1-06 to no reply. Two points from Aaron Browne either side of a Beano Hanlon penalty was followed by two Seamus Mattimoe points, one a collectors item off his right foot. Fionn Reilly capped off his day with a point to leave his tally on 2-01 for the day. The Gaeil Colmcille backs stood firm throughout the second half with Taidgh Dardis debutising at Corner Back for Kells in his first Adult start in A League along with substitute Oisin O’Reilly’s first appearance, Dardis put in a tremendous shift all evening and here’s to hoping these two 17 year olds will have bright futures at Gaeil Colmcille.
Donaghmore/Ashbourne did get the final score of the game with a goal deep into injury-time before Referee Andrew Smith called a halt to proceedings as Gaeil Colcmille ran out 3-11 to 3-07 winners. Up next for the Gaeils will be their first home game of the campaign when they welcome reigning League Champions Summerhill to Grangegodden on Saturday 22nd of April.
Gaeil Colmcille: Barry Farrelly (0-01), Taidgh Dardis, Adam Donnelly, James Reilly, Fionn Reilly (2-01), Jonny Quigley, Barry Tormay, Aaron Browne (0-02), Liam Ferguson, Seamus Mattimoe (0-03), Seanie Curran, Ajay Tormey, Fionn Ferguson (0-02), Brian Hanlon (1-02), Danny Muldoon.
Subs: Rian Early for Muldoon, Oisin O’Reilly for Mattimoe,
