There’s something about going 10 points down in a relegation playoff for the penny to drop for Gaeil Colmcille players and like 2023, the Kells side found themselves trailing by 10 points at half-time with Ballinabrackey running riot. Credit to The Gaeils who patched their wounds and somehow forced extra-time where they came out on top three point winners.
Kells opened the scoring inside the opening minute thanks to a Barry Farrelly free. Seven minutes would pass before the next score and it was a big one in terms of the half as Adam Muldoon was adjudged to have fouled the Ballinabrackey player inside the large rectangle and despite Farrelly guessing the right side, there was too much power behind the strike.
The goal lifted The Bracks and they hit the next seven points without reply. A Brian Hanlon free stopped the rot for Kells but that was cancelled by Ballinabrackey’s 9th point of the half. A Seamus Mattimoe strike was matched by the final score of the half from Ballinabrackey to see them lead 1-10 to 0-03 at half-time.
Gaeil Colmcille started the half the brightest thanks to a Hanlon free and a second point from Mattimoe inside the first two minutes. The Bracks got their first of the half but Andrew Gormley kept the pressure on with a fine score in the 34th minute. Kells were bad need for a goal and Ryan Farnham took the game by the scruff of the neck and danced through the Ballinabrackey defence to rifle to the back of the net.
The the wind in The Gaeils sails the mood was lifted two minutes later as Hanlon saw his shot drop short but for Mattimoe to rise above the Ballinabrackey keeper to punch to the back of the net to leave two between the sides. The next two points was shared and a Farrelly free left the minimum in it with 8 minutes remaining.
Every time Kells got to within a point, The Bracks found a score themselves and a point from play in the 54th minute kept the bit of distance between the sides. As the game headed into injury time, Barry Farrelly took matters in to his own hands and arguably the score of the game just inside the 45 after Hanlon laid the ball off Farrelly put all through the ball to leave one between the teams. Gaeil Colmcille won the next kickout and when Mattimoe was brought down it was that man again Barry Farrelly who sent the game to Extra Time.
The Bracks started the extra time the better and two frees saw them lead 1-15 to 2-10 with four minutes played. Hanlon pointed a free in the 8th minute while substitute Aaron Browne taking inspiration from Barry Farrelly pointed from a near identical position to leave the teams level once again at half-time.
Playing against whatever breeze was there, Gaeil Colmcille took the lead for the first time since the opening minute when Jonny Quigley pointed excellently off his right boot. A free from Hanlon pushed Kells two clear but that was halved when Ballinbrackey pointed in the 16th minute. Hanlon then got his 6th score of the day from a free to once again see Kells lead by two with time almost up.
As Ballinabrackey went in search for an a winning goal, a turnover by the Kells backs saw Oisin Walsh one on one and as he beat his man and pointed to the sound of the full time whistle and the delight of the Kells support.
Gaeil Colmcille: Barry Farrelly (0-04), Adam Donnelly, Rian Early, James Reilly, Jonny Quigley (0-01), Jordan Muldoon, Adam Muldoon, Liam Ferguson, Evan Sheridan, John Gormley, Ryan Farnham (1-00), Oisin Reilly, Seamus Mattimoe (1-02), Brian Hanlon (0-06), Andrew Gormley (0-01).
Subs: Ajay Tormey, Paulie Tormay, Oisin Walsh (0-01), Aaron Browne (0-01)
