Gaeil Colmcille, having to play the majority of the game with 14 men came from four points down at half-time to share the spoils at 1-09 each in the fourth round of the Meath A Leagues Division 1A.
The home side came smartly out of the blocks and fired the first score of the game inside the first 15 seconds of the game but two points by Brian Hanlon from 45’s in quick succession saw Kells lead 0-02 to 0-01 after seven minutes played.
Gaeil Colmcille being reduced to 14 men and with the numerical advantage, Wolfe Tones hit a purple patch and struck for 1-04 to no reply to see them take a six point lead as the half was coming to a close. Gaeil Colmcille never dropped their heads and two crucial points by Martin Barrett and Seamus Mattimoe just before half-time saw Kells trail 1-05 to 0-04 as the referee called a halt to the half.
Two early frees, one for either side kept four between the teams with Hanlon grabbing his third point of the day. Kells were made to work hard for their scores and having to be patient was the key to their next score as they worked the ball through the hands and as the ball landed in the hands of Oisin Reilly who lifted the roof of the net out of it to leave the minimum between the teams. From the resulting kickout the ball ended up in Mattimoe levelling things up with 38 minutes played.
One minute later and incredibly Gaeil Colmcille were in the lead as Mattimoe hit his third point of the game with his trusty left boot. In the 43rd minute, The Tones thought the were back on level terms after a Cian Ward free but after consulting his umpires some time later the score was correctly ruled out. Wolfe Tones would have to wait seven minutes to find the equaliser and there was more bizarre scenes from the kickout of Justin Carry-Lynch when Mattimoe caught cleanly from the kickout, the Tones player flicked the ball out of Mattimoes hand and to the disappointment of the Kells players the ball ended up over the black spot to allow Wolfe Tones regain the lead.
When Wolfe Tones increased the lead to two points in the 56th minute you could be forgiven to think the game would be hard rescued but two frees from Hanlon late on grabbed Kells a share of the two points of offer and gives Gaeil Colmcille their third point of the year.
Gaeil Colmcille: Justin Carry-Lynch, Adam Muldoon, Adam Donnelly, James Reilly, Daniel Farrelly, Conal Courtney, Barry Tormay, Oisin Reilly (1-00), Phil Ward, Seanie Curran, Evan Sheridan. Aaron Browne, Seamus Mattimoe (0-03), Martin Barrett (0-01) Brian Hanlon (0-05)
Subs: Danny Muldoon for Courtney, Fionn Ferguson for Ward
