Gaeil Colmcille travelled to Rathmolyon for the re-fixed first round fixture in the Hurling League Division 3.
Rathmolyon dominated much of the opening half but the efficient free taking of Stephen Reddy and Conor Roche kept Gaeil Colmcille in the game as the duo scored 8 of the 9 chances that came their way during that period. The hosts opened the scoring with a point from play and followed up with one from a free before Reddy converted his first free. With only eight minutes on the clock Conal McGovern had to be replaced by Shane Bennett after the wing forward received a head injury that led to an ambulance trip to hospital at the end of the game, but thankfully no further treatment was required. When play resumed Rathmolyon got their third point but a long range free from Roche, and another from Reddy levelled the scores.
Over the next six minutes the Village rattled off 1-04 from play without reply, but then another long range free from Roche deceived the goalkeeper and dropped into the net. It was brief respite as Rathmolyon cancelled out it out with a goal of their own almost immediately and then added two points from play. Once again Roche and Reddy kept Kells hopes alive with a free each. A pointed free from the hosts was again answered by one from Reddy and a minute later the corner forward struck the visitors sole score from play in the first half. The hosts had the final say of the half with a point to leave six between the teams at the break.
Although Rathmolyon got the opening point of the second half it was the town team who bossed the third quarter. Two points from Fionn Ferguson either side of a Reddy free and two further frees from Roche closed the gap to two points midway through the half. Just as it seemed all the momentum was with the Gaeils a fortuitous goal and then a point from play for the home team extended the gap to six once more. Again Kells responded and as they took the game to their opponents they forced two more frees that were pointed by Reddy.
The same man was then on hand to finish to the net to reduce the lead to the minimum with only two minutes of normal time remaining. As they pushed hard for an equaliser they were unlucky when Roche landed a monster free from the middle of the pitch only to see it go narrowly wide when he was made retake it by the referee. Undaunted they pushed on again and when Reddy scored his eight free of the night deep into injury time it seemed like the Kells spirit was going to get a deserved share of the spoils. However, there was still enough time for Rathmolyon to strike a late winner just before the referee blew the final whistle.
Gaeil Colmcille: Dylan Roche, Adam Muldoon, Michael Foley, Taidgh Dardis, Danny Muldoon, Keith Reilly, Oisin O’Reilly, Evan Sheridan, Liam Ferguson, Rian Early, Fionn Ferguson (0-02), Conal McGovern, Stephen Reddy (1-09, 0-08f) Conor Roche (1-04, all frees) Robbie Hunt.
Subs: Shane Bennett for McGovern, Eibheann Keegan for Hunt, Cormac O’Reilly for Early.
