With both Gaeil Colmcille and Ballinabrackey suffering heavy defeats in the opening round of the Fairyhouse Steel Meath Senior Football Championship, one would be looking for redemption as the sides locked battle with each other at St. Loman’s Park, Trim on Sunday evening.
In a frantic opening five minutes which saw Gaeil Colmcille take a 0-02 to 0-00 lead thanks to a Ryan Farnham effort and a free from Kells keeper Barry Farrelly. Sean Coffey and Dean McNamee drew The Bracks level by the 7th minute which two points from play. The Gaeils once again called on the services of their keeper as he struck his second point of the game and restored Gaeil Colmcille’s lead at 0-03 to 0-02 with a quarter of the game played.
Two frees from Ballinabrackey’s Danny Quinn saw the green and gold take the lead for the first time as the half drew into the closing stages. Quinn added a point from play before full-forward Damien Carroll’s effort pushed Ballinabrakey three clear. Farnham closed out the scoring for the first half and left Gaeil Colmcille trailing 0-04 to 0-06 at the break.
Richie Coffey got the first score of the second half for The Bracks but it was soon cancelled out with a point from Ajay Tormey, With 33 minutes played Ballinabrackey pounced for the opening goal of the game when a high ball fell to Mark Coffey who palmed into the back of the net. Centre back Jonny Quigley responded for Gaeil Colmcille as he saw his left foot effort sail across the bar to close the gap to 4 points.
Both sides traded the next two scores with Niall Smullen scoring for Ballinabrackey and Seamus Mattimoe pointing for Gaeil Colmcile. Ballinbrackey’s lead was soon out to six points thanks to two points from Quinn, one from play and another from a placed ball. Kells management rung the changes and one of those was substitute Evan Sheridan who made an instant impact pointing in the 44th minute.
Just as The Gaeils were gaining any momentum, Ballinabrackey hit a sucker punch and the games second goal as Meath star Sean Coffey rose highest to punch the ball to the back of an empty net to see Ballinabrackey push eight clear. Eight turned into nine when Quinn pointed once again, this time from an acute angle to put his team in total control.
Credit to Gaeil Colmcille they never laid down and two points in a row from Ajay Tormey was followed by an Adam Donnelly point and a fourth from Tormey proved that Kells wouldn’t go down without a fight as they got back to within five points with 4 minutes remaining. Quinn settled any nerves that might have been creeping in when he pointed over a free in the 58th minute. In the closing stages Kells hit for two points to The Bracks one with Tormey getting his fifth and Mattimoe his second to leave Ballinabrackey 2-13 to 0-14 winners on the night.
The win for Ballinabrakey keeps their hopes alive of qualification while Gaeil Colmcille need to dust themselves down and face their first relegation battle since promotion in 2013. Special mention and on a positive note for Gaeil Colmcille their was Senior Debuts for Daniel Farrelly and Fionn Smith while Liam Barry made his first senior start for the club.
Gaeil Colmcille: Barry Farrelly (0-02, Adam Donnelly (0-01), Paulie Tormay, Adam Muldoon, James Reilly, Jonny Quigley (0-01), Barry Tormay, Cormac Ferguson, Ryan Farnham (0-02), Liam Ferguson, Liam Barry, Ajay Tormey (0-05), Seamus Mattimoe (0-02), Phil Ward, Daniel Farrelly.
Subs: Evan Sheridan (0-01), Seanie Curran, Fionn Smith, Rian Early, Danny Muldoon
