Gaeil Colmcille were hoping to keep their slim hopes of promotion alive when they welcomed Kilmessan’s Second string to Grangegodden on Wednesday morning.
Despite playing against the breeze it was Kilmessan who opened brightly and they were three points up in the first 5 minutes. Conal McGovern scored an excellent point, but the visitors added two more to extend their lead. Kells eventually began to get a foothold in the game. Stephen Reddy pulled one back with a free and a minute later Cormac O’Reilly levelled the scores when he latched on to a loose ball to finish to the net. Although the visitors pointed to take the lead again, the Gaeils responded with a point from McGovern and two from Conor Roche (1 from a free).
Dylan Roche got Kells next score, but Kilmessan replied and when he got his second a minute later, again the visitors responded. As half time approached Kells conceded a free, and before they got time to organise Kilmessan had the sliotar in the net, but there was still time for Reddy to equalise with a free in the final act of the half.
When the second half resumed it continued as an even contest. Two points for Kilmessan, were matched by scores from Reddy (free) and Roche before a red card reduced the Gaeils to 14 with 20 minutes left to play. The visitors scored the resultant free but Conor Roche replied from play. A fortuitous Kilmessan goal was followed by a point leaving Kells with an uphill battle with less than 7 minutes remaining.
Two Reddy frees reduced the margin to two points, but a Kilmessan point left 3 between the sides as the game entered injury time. Conor Roche converted a free just before a red card for the visitors. With the playing numbers evened up Kells pushed on. When Keith Reilly’s attempt to lob the ball into the square sailed over the bar it seemed like the game was up.
A Kells turnover from the puck out found its way to Liam Ferguson who was fouled and Reddy equalised from the free before Peter O’Halloran blew the final whistle.
Gaeil Colmeille: Gary McGovern, Taidgh Dardis, Danny Muldoon, Sean King, Cormac Ferguson, Keith Reilly (0-01f) Eibheann Keegan, Liam Ferguson, Oisin O’Reilly, Conal McGovern (0-02), Conor Roche (0-05, 2f), Barry Tormay, Stephen Reddy (0-06, 4f), Dylan Roche (0-02), Cormac O’Reilly (1-00)
Subs: Fionn Smith for Keegan, Robbie Hunt for Tormay, Alan McGovern for Conal McGovern
