In a game of missed opportunities for both sides, it was Wolfe Tones who prevailed by the minimum in this second round hurling league fixture played in Gibbstown on Friday evening.
Kells were quick off the mark in a low scoring first half with points from Liam Ferguson and Andrew Gormley in the opening two minutes, both coming after some very good team work. Unfortunately for the Gaeils they would not score again until the last two minutes when Gormley added two further points from play to level proceedings. In the intervening period Wolfe Tones had taken the lead with four from play as both sides were guilty of numerous missed chances.
The scoring rate improved considerably in the second half. The home side converted a free but Cormac O’Reilly equalised a minute later. With a free and one from play Wolfe Tones took the lead again. Tiernan Anderson got the next two points for Kells but unfortunately for the visitors these scores came either side of a Wolfe Tones goal. The sides exchanged the next four scores, the Gaeils scores coming from Noah Boshell and Conor Roche, before the Tones stuck for their second goal to open up a six point lead at the midway point in the second half.
An excellent response followed as Boshell pointed a free, Anderson goaled from the penalty spot and Liam Ferguson added a point from play to leave just one between the sides with less than 10 minutes to go. Next it was the turn of the home side to respond and points from a free and from play were soon followed by a goal as they once again opened up a six point gap. Yet again Kells refused to lie down.
Points from Boshell and Anderson narrowed the gap as the game entered injury time. A save by Conor Murray kept Kells in the game before a long range Boshell free deceived everyone near the goalmouth and ended up in the net. Once again this left just the minimum between the sides but it was enough to see the home side take the points as the full time whistle sounded on the restart.
Gaeil Colmcille: Conor Murray, Adam Muldoon, Cormac Ferguson, Eoin Flynn, Rian Early, Evan Sheridan, Cormac O’Reilly (0-01), Liam Ferguson (0-02), Noah Boshell (1-03, 1-01f), Gary McGovern, Conor Roche (0-01), Oisin O’Reilly, Andrew Gormley (0-03), Tiernan Anderson (1-03, 1-00p) Stephen Reddy.
Subs: John Murray for Gary McGovern, Killian Murray for Stephen Reddy, Robbie Hunt for Andrew Gormley, Kyle O’Rourke for Conor Roche.
