The concession of three second half goals proved costly for Gaeil Colmcille as they fell to a two point defeat to Drumbaragh in Grangegodden.
The visitors got off to a flying start and found themselves three points to no score up with just two minutes on the clock. Gaeil Colmcille seemed nervous and fielding 9 players eligible for U19s this year they were somewhat naive in the early parts of the game. They received a boost to their confidence in the 8th minute after Dan Farrelly was hauled down in the penalty area and Oisin Walsh tucked away the spot kick to leave Kells level.
Drumbaragh responded with two points in the 11th and 16th minute to restore their lead but a Noah Boshell point cut that lead in half. Gaeil Colmcille suffered a hammer blow on 25 minutes when Drumbaragh’s William Carry found the back of the net for the first time to lead by 4. Gaeil Colmcille didn’t let the goal affect them and points from Walsh and Alex Williams left Kells trailing 1-03 to 1-05 at the break.
The introduction of Andrew Gormley at half-time proved significant for Kells and within the first fifteen seconds of the restart he had popped over his first score. A pointed mark from Oisin Walsh left the sides level once again before Drumbaragh got their second goal from the next kickout thanks to Colm Carry.
Two points in a row from Liam Barry, one from play and a monster free kept Kells in the game, but like so many times in the game, Drumbaragh responded with a sucker blow as a point was soon followed by Colm Carrys second goal and Drumbaragh’s third to see five between the teams, the largest lead of the game.
Both sides shared scores with Dan Farrelly pointing for the Gaeils to keep five between the sides. From the 41st to the 48th minute Gaeil Colmcille hit a purple patch, their best of the game and their young guns hit seven points in a row to take the lead for the first time in the game. Andrew Gormley hitting four of those while a superb 45 for Boshell was matched by scores from Fionn Smith and John Gormley.
The atmosphere at Granggodden was electrifying and when Drumbaragh left the minimum between the sides with a point it was set up for a frantic finish. As both sides threatened, it was Conor Lynch and Drumbaragh’s crucial fourth goal that came to see them regain the lead once again with 52 minutes played.
Kells had chances to get their way back into the game but Alex Williams saw his goal chance blaze over leaving just the one point separating the teams. As Kells went in search for an equalising score, it was Drumbaragh who got an insurance score to settle the game and take the two points on offer.
Gaeil Colmcille: Sean Thornton, Max Finlay, Cormac Ferguson, Bruno Griffin, Fionn Smith (0-01), Paul Tormay, Danny Muldoon, Noah Boshell (0-02), Alex Williams (0-02), Dan Farrelly (0-01), Liam Barry (0-02), Oisin Walsh (1-02), John Gormley (0-01)
Subs: Andrew Gormley (0-05), Tiernan Anderson, Cormac O’Reilly, Kilian Kelly
