Gaeil Colmcille were hoping to build on some promising performances in the Division 3 Hurling when they welcomed Killyon to Grangegodden Sunday morning.
Kells got off to a good start when Fionn Ferguson scored a point within 30 seconds and Evan Sheridan added a second, but Killyon equalised with a point from play and one from a free. Sheridan then found the back of the net but his effort was ruled out for a square ball. The sides traded the next four points with Ferguson adding to his tally with the two Kells scores. The Gaeils went on to open up a three point lead with points from Conor Roche with a free, Reddy and two more from Ferguson, while the visitors only response was a free.
Killyon cut the deficit with another free but a point for Sheridan and another Roche free extended the lead again. The Killyon centre forward converted another free and Reddy replied from play to maintain the gap just before the visitors were reduced to 14 with a straight red card. However the loss of a player with 5 minutes of the half remaining spurred them on. First the full forward gathered the sliotar and fired it to the back of the net. Two minutes later dissent resulted in the referee moving a 21 yard free from the wing into the centre and the centre forward took full advantage, smashing in a second goal for Killyon as Gaeil Colmcille went in two down at halftime.
With the extra man and a stiff breeze in their favour for the second half Kells made the most of the advantages limiting their opponents to just two points during that period. Conor Roche set the tone up front scoring three points with two of them coming from frees, and an effort from distance by Evan Sheridan deceived the goalkeeper when it dropped short and ended up in the net.
As the game entered the final quarter Stephen Reddy added another goal and when Fionn Ferguson followed it up with a point the Gaeils were in full control. Substitute Dylan Roche contributed a goal and a point when introduced for the last 10 minutes. In between his two scores Killyon got their two points of the half while the hosts added three points with two coming from Ferguson and one from Cormac O’Reilly.
Gaeil Colmcille: Gary McGovern, Taidgh Dardis, Michael Foley, Adam Muldoon, Rian Early, Keith Reilly, Oisin O’Reilly, Liam Ferguson, Evan Sheridan (1-02), Cormac O’Reilly (0-01), Conor Roche (0-05, 4f), Fionn Ferguson (0-08) Stephen Reddy (1-02), Shane Bennett, Robbie Hunt.
Subs: Dylan Roche (1-01) for Robbie Hunt, Sean King for Reddy, Fionn Smith for Muldoon.
