Kells travelled to Ratoath for this second round fixture in Division 1 of the minor league. Playing against a strong breeze in the first half they got of to a good start when Jack Hogg scored a point after just 40 seconds.
This was cancelled out within a minute when the Ratoath full-forward pointed from play. Both sides squandered chances over the next 5 minutes before the hosts found the back of the net after Conor Flanagan had excellently blocked the initial effort.
This lifted the home side who quickly added two points from play and one from a free to extend their lead. Having gone 13 minutes without a score, the Gaeils finally started to find their range with three points from play from Oisin O’Reilly, Oisin Walsh and Conal McGovern.
Ratoath responded with a pointed free and another from play as they continued to make use of the elements. Again Walsh, with a free and O’Reilly from play cut the deficit, before Ratoath got the final score of the half to leave the hosts four points ahead, 1-07 to 0-06.
A minute into the second half Noah Boshell, who was causing Ratoath problems with his high fielding all evening, struck for a goal at the end of a good move. In a whirlwind start to the half Ratoath scored their second goal a minute later.
Tiernan Anderson scored the next point, before a speculative shot from Calum Mitchell deceived the goalkeeper and found the net. Three minutes later Walsh converted a free to put the Kells lads ahead for the first time since the opening minute. Ratoath equalised, Walsh restored the lead from play, and again Ratoath equalised. However, that was to be the home side’s last, as they were held scoreless for the last 15 minutes.
Anderson got the next point when he cut in from the side and fisted over and Boshell extended the lead to two points a minute later. The final score was a sweetly struck point from a difficult angle by Liam Devine, making his debut for the minor team.
In the closing minutes the team showed remarkable composure retaining the ball in their opponents half and ensuring that their three point lead was not threatened.
Gaeil Colmcille: Conor Flanagan, Taidgh Dardis, Bruno Griffin, Harry Flanagan, Killian Kelly, John Gormley, Rian Early, Jack Hogg (0-01), Oisin O’Reilly (0-02), Noah Boshell (1-01), Tiernan Anderson (0-02), David Butler, Liam Barry, Oisin Walsh (0-04), Conal McGovern (0-01).
Subs: Glen Gavigan, Eoghan Flynn, Callum Mitchell (1-00), Liam Devine (0-01).
