Gaeil Colmcille produced a snatch and grab victory in the LMFM Minor Football Tournament Division 3 final over Skryne when a 62nd minute goal from Zach Boshell was followed by a 64th minute goal and winner from Jack Butler to steal the game from the jaws of defeat. Butler’s goal sparking wild celebrations on the Kells line while the feeling of despair was visible on the Skryne bench as the Tara men looked to have the game all but wrapped up.
Gaeil Colmcille were dealt a blow with the news that Liam Devine and Max Chamberlayne would not make the starting line-up due to injury but early on that didn’t seem to effect the lads as they got the first score in the game thanks to a left footed free by Tadhg Melady in the fifth minute. Skryne replied shortly after but Gaeil Colmcille struck for the first goal of the game in the 11th minute after a strong run from Jack Butler which left him one on one with the Skryne keeper and he made no mistake. A Zach Boshell free one minute later saw Kells get off the perfect start and lead by 4.
Skryne’s response was excellent and in the 14th minute found the back of the net beyond a helpless Caoimhin Jordan. A Harry Butler point in the 18th minute left two between the sides but that would be Kells last score for 29 minutes as Skryne took control of the game. Five points in a row saw Skryne lead 1-06 to 1-03 at half time and undone all of Gaeil Colmcille’s early good work.
Just as the finished the half, Skryne started the second half strongly and scored 1-01 to no reply inside the opening 8 minutes, the goal, a brilliant solo effort from the Skryne player. The goal left seven points between the sides and could have been worse only for Jordan in the Kells goals. Nothing seemed to be going right for Gaeil Colmcille who couldn’t find their range with a number of wides followed by shots dropping short and others coming back off the uprights.
Zach Boshell spurred a bit of life into the Kells side and three points in a row in the 47th, 48th and 53rd minute cut Skrynes lead to four points. But just as Kells began to hope, Skryne hit two points in a row and it looked to be the final nail on the Gaeil Colmcille coffin. The never say die attitude of the Kells player shun through though and a pointed free from Boshell left five between the sides and queued the madness in injury-time. Gaeil Colmcille pushed all players forward and put enormous pressure on the Skryne defence and when Boshell found the net in the 62nd minute they could sense a bit of hope. From the resulting kickout, The Gaeils forwards forced a free for over carrying and as the free looped into the square, the ball fell in the hands of Conor Óg Ferguson, Ferguson struck the ball perfectly but he saw his effort come back off the crossbar. Luckily for Kells the ball fell kindly into the hands of Jack Butler who drove the ball low to the back of the net for the Kells win and the wild celebrations for the first competition of the year.
Gaeil Colmcille: Caomihin Jordan, Conor Óg Ferguson, Hugh Farrelly, Fionn Cleary, Charlie Twomey, Oisin Sheridan, Rocco Genocky, Aaron Styles, Jack Byrne, Harry Butler (0-01), Zach Boshell (1-05), Keelan Sheridan, Tadhg Melady, Jack Butler (2-00), Shane Callaghan.
Subs: Leo Fitzgerald, Fionn Morris, Tiernan McGovern, Shane Gallagher, Ryan Moran, Bobby Butler, Ben Finlay, Liam Devine, Max Chamberlayne. Mascot: Tom Flanagan.
