Gaeil Colmcille mage the trip to Ashbourne for the second time in a week, this time their Adult Hurlers took on Donaghmore/Ashbourne in the opening fixture of the Division 3 League.
A close opening half saw the lead change hands a number of times with the Gaeils finding themselves ahead at the interval. Donaghmore-Ashbourne pointed to take an early lead. Evan Sheridan and Keith Reilly replied for Kells but the hosts responded with two points from play and one from a free.
Two Reddy frees drew the sides level with 20 minutes on the clock following good work by his colleagues Conor Roche and Robbie Hunt in the full forward line. Excellent defending by veteran fullback Mickey Foley ably assisted by young Adam Muldoon and even younger Taidgh Dardis in the corners kept their opponents scoreless for the remainder of the half as a point from Barry Tormay and another Reddy free pushed the Gaeils two clear.
Donaghmore-Ashbourne started the second half with intent but saw two efforts go wide in the opening minutes. A Reddy free then came off the crossbar but as Rian Early battled for the ball it eventually broke to Conor Roche who made no mistake to extend the lead. The home team converted two frees in quick succession to close the gap once again.
However the next ten minutes belonged to Gaeil Colmcille as Liam Ferguson and Evan Sheridan got on top in midfield. The faultless Reddy converted two more frees and the corner forward was then on hand to finish first time to the back of the net midway through the half. Danny Muldoon was unlucky to see his effort from distance go narrowly wide before Evan Sheridan got his second point of the evening.
Barry Tormay then caught a clearance from Gary McGovern and laid it off to Oisin O’Reilly who was hauled down as he ran through the middle. Reddy scored the resultant free and put over his seventh and final free of the game a minute later. Donaghmore-Ashbourne pointed a free with two minutes remaining but it was Conal McGovern who capped off a fine display with a superb point from well out on the right to complete the scoring.
Gaeil Colmcille: Gary McGovern, Adam Muldoon, Michael Foley, Taidgh Dardis, Danny Muldoon (c), Keith Reilly(0-01), Oisin O’Reilly, Evan Sheridan (0-02), Liam Ferguson, Conal McGovern (0-01), Barry Tormay (0-01), Rian Early, Stephen Reddy (1-07, 0-07f) Conor Roche (0-01), Robbie Hunt.
Subs: Harry Flanagan for Hunt, Fionn Smith for Early
©️ photo Hoganstand
