Gaeil Colmcille hosted Dunshaughlin in a rescheduled Division 7 fixture at a sunny but unseasonably cold Grangegodden on Monday evening. The Gaeils started against a strong breeze and fielded a blend of young and (very) experienced players. The hard working Kells defence limited the visitors opportunities in a low scoring first half.
The lead changed hands numerous times during the half when there was never more than a point between the sides. Stephen Reddy, David Butler and Gary McGovern pointed from play, and further frees from Gary Arkins and McGovern accounted for the Kells scores as they went into halftime level at 0-05 apiece.
Another inspirational halftime talk energised the home team as they blitzed their opponents in the opening 10 minutes of the second half. As Kevin Carpenter started to dominate midfield, Daragh Smyth was twice at the end of good team moves to finish to the net, and in between those goals Gary Arkins got two points from play. A memorable shimmy by Glen Gavigan deceived his marker but his effort to score did not match his side step. Dunshaughlin’s first point of the half was then cancelled out by one from Reddy.
As the game entered the final quarter, the visitors goaled from the penalty spot, but almost immediately Kells broke up field and Jack Hogg was on hand to raise another green flag. Smyth split the post two minutes later and then converted a 45 after a Max Finlay effort was deflected wide. With the home side now completely dominant, Reddy saw a speculative lob deceive the goalkeeper and end up in the net. Smyth added a point, and Hogg got his second goal as the game entered the last five minutes.
The highlight of that period, however, was the introduction of Eanna Ryan to make his long awaited first appearance of the year. Dunshaughlin, to their credit, fought on and were rewarded for their efforts with two goals and a point in the closing minutes, while the final Kells point came from Hogg.
Gaeil Colmcille: Conor Flanagan, Conor Arkins, Sean King, Max Finlay, Tiernan Anderson, Niall Williams, Ryan O’Boyle, David Butler (0-01), Kevin Carpenter, Sean Curran, Gary McGovern (0-02, 1f), Stephen Reddy (1-02), Jack Hogg (2-01), Darragh Smyth (2-03), Glen Gavigan.
Subs: Gary Arkins (0-03, 1f) for Conor Arkins, Eanna Ryan for Glen Gavigan, Glen Gavigan for Conor Flanagan.
