For the first time since their return to the Senior ranks, Gaeil Colmcille saw themselves in the dreaded Relegation Play-Offs. With set backs all year with players emigrating and long term injuries, the draw for the Quarter-Final wasn’t kind to The Gaeils with St. Peter’s, Dunboyne the opposition.
Dunboyne, who would have been a lot of peoples picks for Keegan Cup glory sprinted out of the blocks in Walterstown with Donal Lenihan grabbing three frees in a row for Dunboyne. This was followed by a point from play and it wouldn’t be until the 20th minute for Gaeil Colmcille to trouble the scoreboard as Barry Farrelly popped over a free.
That was to be The Gaeils only score of the half with Dunboyne firmly putting the foot on the Kells throats and four points from play in a row saw them lead 0-08 to 0-01 with Kieran Olwell blowing for Half-Time.
Things seemed to be turning for Gaeil Colmcille early on in the second half as Dunboyne saw their corner back sent off and Kells looked to have won a penalty after Phil Ward seemed to have been bear hugged in the square but after consulting with his umpires, Olwell decided against the penalty. To add insult to injury from the resulting throw up Dunboyne worked the ball right to the pitch and got the first point of the second half to leave 8 between the sides.
The introduction of fresh attacking legs saw Kells start to create more danger with Seanie Curran, Evan Sheridan and Fionn Ferguson finding themselves on plenty of ball and the latter Ferguson pointed brilliantly for Kells second point of the game. Farrelly followed that with his second free to leave six between the teams.
The Gaeils just couldn’t gain any momentum and Dunboyne looked like scoring at every attack and two further points in a row restored their 8 point lead with 20 minutes remaining. With 46 minutes on the clock Sheridan popped over a lovely point with his trusted left boot and Ajay Tormey followed that with a similar point from near the 45 yard line.
Both sides traded scores with Farrelly adding a third and Adam Muldoon who was immense in defence throughout the game saw his attacking effort punched over the bar to leave five between the teams. Sheridan got his second point of the half but a thirteenth point for Dunboyne kept them five points up with just two minutes of regular time remaining.
Credit to Gaeil Colmcille they never lay down and more good work from a substitute, this time Gary Arkins saw a pointed free from Farrelly bring the game back to four points and in the 61st minute this time Kells got the favourable decision of the Referee and Umpires as Dunboyne keeper was adjudged to have fouled the ball in the small rectangle and Kells were awarded a penalty, up stepped Farrelly and he made no mistake to leave it a one point game.
Kells needed to win the next kick out and they did so and patiently playing the ball around and full back Adam Donnelly laid the ball off to Fionn Ferguson who, from 35 yards out hit an incredible score to take the game to extra time.
Both these sides played out extra time in a Quarter-Final back in 2018 with Dunboyne practically winning the game in the opening half of added time. Today was the turn of the Kells men as 1-03 to no score from Gaeil Colmcille saw them take control of the tie. Seamus Mattimoe pointed in the second minute and three minutes later Mattimoe’s inch perfect pass picked out Liam Ferguson who smashed the ball low and hard beyond Cian Flynn in the Dunboyne goal. Gary Arkins set substitute Rian Early up for a score and his fisted effort saw Kells lead 2-12 to 0-13.
Liam Ferguson finished off the scoring in the first half in injury time to see Kells lead by 6 points. If Kells thought the win was in the bag Dunboyne had other ideas and three points in the first five minutes of the second half of extra time set up a nervy finish for all the Kells support.
Two more points in a row from Dunboyne left the minimum between the sides with time almost up and luckily for Gaeil Colmcille the sound of Referee Kieran Olwell’s whistle was music to many of ears as Kells secured their senior status for 2024. For Dunboyne they dust themselves down as they’ll face Moynalvey in two weeks time.
Gaeil Colmcille: Barry Farrelly (1-04), Fionn Smith, Adam Donnelly, Adam Muldoon (0-01), Jonny Quigley, Barry Tormay, Cormac Ferguson, Ajay Tormey (0-01) Liam Ferguson (1-01), Conal Courtney, Seamus Mattimoe (0-01), James Reilly, Ryan Farnham, Phil Ward, Daniel Farrelly.
Subs(incl Extra Time): Seanie Curran, Evan Sheridan (0-02), Fionn Ferguson (0-02), Gary Arkins, Paul Tormay, Rian Early (0-01)
