When Referee Keith Sheerin blew for full time with the sides level, neither team could have too many complaints as both team could easily have lost the game in the latter stages.
The visitors to Grangegodden, St. Colmcille’s got off to the perfect start as they rattled the back of the net without even one minute on the stopwatch. In a frantic opening three minutes, The Gaeils pulled two points back in quick succession, both from the boot of Brian Hanlon, one a free kick and the other a point from play to leave one between the sides.
With the wind swirling around Grangegodden, scores were at a premium but it was the East Meath outfit that would tag on the next two scores, both coming from play to see them lead 1-02 to 0-02 with 18 minutes played. An Andrew Gormley free in the 19th minute kept Kells in the game. St. Colmcille’s looked nailed on for their second goal of the game but for Barry Farrelly to make an excellent save to deny the Cille’s forward.
The Cille’s did restore their three point lead soon after but Hanlon left two between the teams at half time with a free on the 14 yard line leaving Gaeil Colmcille trailing 0-04 to 1-03.
Just as St. Colmcille’s had done in the first half, Gaeil Colmcille came bursting out of the traps in the second half and from the throw in the ball fell to Oisin Walsh who beat his marker, dropped his shoulder and finished low beyond the keeper to give Kells the lead for the first time in the game. The game had a lightening pace to it and Colmcille’s were back on level terms by the 32nd minute.
Gaeil Colmcille hit a two minute purple patch with Brian “Beano” Hanlon rolling back the years with three points in a row, two superb points from play and a free after Walsh was hauled back off the ball. With the Gaeils ahead by three with 35 minutes played, St. Colmcille’s dug deep and took the lead once more on the 44th minute with four points in a row for the Seasiders.
As the game ebbed and flowed, it was Gaeil Colmcille who regained the lead in the 49th minute as Andrew Gormley tapped over a free and Ryan Farnham pointed to see Kells lead 1-09 to 1-08 with just over 10 minutes remaining.
In the final 10 minutes the scores changed three times with The Cille’s levelling things up, then Hanlon restoring The Gaeils lead but for the East Meath outfit to once again draw the game level with the final score of the game and see both Colmcille’s on three points after two games.
Gaeil Colmcille: Barry Farrelly, Fionn Smith, Rian Early, Paulie Tormay, Adam Muldoon, Barry Tormay, Jonny Quigley, Liam Ferguson, Ryan Farnham (0-01), Liam Barry, Brian Hanlon (0-07), John Gormley, Oisin Walsh (1-00), Andrew Gormley (0-02), James Reilly.
Sub: Daniel Farrelly for P Tormay.
