Gaeil Colmcille produced a superb team performance in the second half to capture a fourth Feis Cup since 2015 with a three-point victory over hosts Donaghmore/Ashbourne with goals from Ryan Farnham and Fionn Reilly proving pivotal to their success.
In what was a tight first half affair, scores were at a minimum and it was The Moores who opened the scoring in the third minute. Gaeil Colmcille didn’t wait much longer to respond, and Ajay Tormey squared things up two minutes later when he saw his effort split the uprights.
In a tip-toe battle Donaghmore/Ashbourne would find a score and instantly Kells would react with the next four points shared with Seamus Mattimoe and Barry Farrelly adding pointed frees for the Gaeils and Bryan Menton hitting the score of the half with his trademark on the run point. For the first time in the game there was a bit of daylight between the sides after points from Donaghmore/Ashbourne in the 18th and 23rd minute left two between the teams. Farrelly added his second point but that was cancelled by a free to Donaghmore Ashbourne to keep two between the teams.
A turning point in the game came in the 28th minute when The Moores were reduced to 14 men with Leo Reilly receiving a black card for a trip. Jordan Muldoon closed the gap to the minimum in the 32nd minute to close the gap and leave Kells just a point behind at the break.
The Gaeils we’re hoping to make the numerical advantage count early in the second half and a goal from Farnham who found himself in the right spot at the right time saw Kells take a two point lead. Two Brian Hanlon frees quickly saw Gaeil Colmcille take a four point lead, which looked unprecedented on the first half showing.
Kells continued to apply the pressure and Hanlon added a further point from play in the 41st minute and two minutes later Kells got their second goal when Reilly palmed to the back of the net to leave eight between the sides. Donaghmore/Ashbourne rallied and hit three points in a row before Gaeil Colmcille substitute Conal Courtney stopped any momentum with a lovely score in the 57th minute.
With Kells leading 2-09 to 0-09 deep in injury time, the hosts were awarded a penalty and Andrew Tormey made no mistake to put beyond Farrelly in the Kells goals. Upon the ball hitting the back of the net, referee David Gough blew for full-time to the cheers of the travelling Kells support.
Gaeil Colmcille: Barry Farrelly (0-02), Adam Muldoon, Adam Donnelly, Paulie Tormay, Jordan Muldoon (0-01), Jonny Quigley, James Reilly, Aaron Browne, Liam Ferguson, Fionn Reilly (1-00), Seamus Mattimoe (0-01), Ajay Tormey (0-01), Ryan Farnham (1-00), Brian Hanlon (0-03), Rian Early
Subs: Conal Courtney (0-01), Seanie Curran
photo ©️ Hoganstand
