Gaeil Colmcille lost out by 5 points to Kilskyre/Moylagh in the inaugural Intermediate B Championship played in Trim.
Kilskyre/Moylagh had former Kells goalkeeper Charlie Usher to thank early on when he made a couple of vital saves, most notable from Evan Sheridan. Kilskyre/Moylagh got the opening score of the game but that was soon cancelled out by an Andrew Gormley point. The same trend followed in the 10th and 12th minute with Kilskyre/Moylagh pointing and Gormley responding.
Gaeil Colmcille took the lead in the 15th minute when Liam Ferguson saw his effort drop short but the bounce in the square deceived everyone and went over the bar with the help of the hand of Usher. Kilskyre/Moylagh struck three points in a row to open a two point lead but that was cut in half with Fergusons second score of the game.
With the clock in the red, Kilskyre/Moylagh got what turned out to be the crucial score of the game when Darren O’Higgins finished beyond Conor Murray in the Kells net to go in 1-05 to 0-04 at the break.
An Andrew Gormley 65 in the 33rd minute reduced the deficit to three points with the first score of the half. By the 39th minute Kilskyre/Moylagh were 6 clear after hitting three points in a row. A Gormley free stopped the rot for Kells but two further points by Kilskyre/Moylagh saw them lead by 7 points with 14 minutes remaining.
Gormley added another free followed by the best score of the game for Kells from the stick of Tiernan Anderson left The Gaeils trailing 1-10 to 0-08 with 9 minutes remaining. As The Gaeils went on search of goals, Kilskyre/Moylagh kept the scoreboard ticking their side. Kells substitute Stephen Reddy tapped over a free and Evan Sheridan finished the game with a goal and a point but it wasn’t enough to claw back Kilskyre/Moylagh’s lead as they were crowned the first winners of the Mattie O’Brien cup.
Gaeil Colmcille: Conor Murray, Adam Muldoon, Paulie Tormay, Cormac Ferguson, Danny Muldoon, John Gormley, Jordan Muldoon, Rian Early, Liam Ferguson (0-02), Oisin O’Reilly, Evan Sheridan (1-01), Tiernan Anderson (0-01), Eoghan Flynn, Gary McGovern, Andrew Gormley (0-05).
Subs: Barry Tormay, Conall McGovern, Stephen Reddy (0-01)
