Gaeil Colmcille welcomed Dunshaughlin to Grangegodden for the fifth round of the Feis Cup, the hosts were looking to bounce back after the defeat to Summerhill the week previous while the visitors were looking for their first win of the campaign.
Forty three points over 33 scores led for an magnificent spectacle for the crowd there, Dunshaughlin got the first score of the game in the opening minute of the game but that would be their only score of the first quarter as Gaeil Colmcille rattled off 1-05 with no reply. Three points in a row from Martin Barrett, Fionn Ferguson and Phil Ward was followed by an excellent team goal, Liam Ferguson called a mark from a Dunshaughlin kick out, two kick passes from Conal Courtney and Barrett and the ball made its way into full-forward Fionn Ferguson who laid the ball off to the onrushing Seamus Mattimoe who coolly finished to the back of the net. Mattimoe followed this with a free and Fionn Ferguson got his second point of the day on the 15th minute.
A pointed free for Dunshaughlin left the score 1-05 to 0-02 at the first half water break. both sides traded the next four scores with Mattimoe brothers Seamus and Cormac pointing for Kells. Gaeil Colmcille’s first half improved in the 24th minute when a ball into the forward line bounced over everyone and into the hands of Barrett who finished low to the bottom corner.
Dunshaughlin did finish the half strong accounting for three of the next four scores but disaster struck once again as Conal Courtney, playing at wing forward rounded the keeper and finished to an empty net to give Kells a 3-08 to 0-07 lead as Referee Joseph Curran blew for half-time.
Just as Dunshaughlin gained any momentum Gaeil Colmcille regained momentum as Dunshaughlin hit two points in the opening two minutes of the second half but Martin Barrett popped up to get his second goal of the game and Kells fourth. A trademark outside of the right foot point by Liam Ferguson on the 39th minute and Gaeil Colmcille looked to seal a comfortable win for hosts but a fortuitous for Dunshaughlin in the 51st minute sparked the visitors and after the goal the outscored Gaeil Colmcille 0-05 to a Phil Ward point to ensure a tense finish for Lar Wall’s side. With one score between the sides and Dunshaughlin pushing for an equalizing goal, it would be the Gaeil Colmcille back who’d stand stronger to hold tight and secure the three point win to keep their semi-final hopes alive.
Gaeil Colmcille: Justin Carry-Lynch, Adam Donnelly, Paulie Tormay, Ahmed Lawal, Jonny Quigley, James Reilly, Seanie Curran, Phil Ward (0-02), Liam Ferguson (0-01), Evan Sheridan, Martin Barrett (2-01), Conal Courtney (1-01), Seamus Mattimoe (1-03), Fionn Ferguson (0-02), Cormac Mattimoe (0-01).
Subs: Cormac Ferguson, Aaron Browne, Danny Muldoon, Alex Williams, Daniel Farrelly, Ryan Farnham.
Photo © Declan Lynch
