Gaeil Colmcille got their Minor Football Tournament campaign off to the best possible start with a win over town neighbours Navan O’Mahony’s in Grangegodden.
Both of these sides were familiar with themselves in 2021 having met three times in Minor grade and this year could be something similar. Kells got off to the best possible start when Gormley brothers Andrew and John accounted for the first four of Gaeil Colmcille’s scores with Andrew accounting for three of those with Navan O’Mahony’s getting a point in the 9th minute to leave Gaeil Colmcille 0-04 to 0-01 ahead at 15 minutes played. Things could have been a lot better for Gaeil Colmcille but John Gormley saw his shot rattle the crossbar.
Gaeil Colmcille got the next two points of the game, both well worked moves with Oisin O’Reilly and Finn Tegetmeier getting on the end of each move. With 21 minutes on the clock Kells struck for the opening goal. A brilliantly worked move from the backs right up the pitch saw Liam Barry fire to the back of the net to stretch Kells lead.
Wing forward Noah Boshell pointed excellently in the 24th minute and Tegetmeier got his second point of the half and Gaeil Colmcille’s last of the half to see them lead 1-08 to 0-01 at the interval.
Referee Joseph Curran was left waiting for the O’Mahony’s side at the start of the second half and the team talk seemed to do the trick as the Navan men came out and bossed the opening few minutes of the half, pointing in the 32nd minute. Navan looked certain to get their first goal of the game but Glen Gavagan in the Kells goal closed down the Navan forward who was left one on one with Gavagan and his excellent stop kept Gaeil Colmcille in command.
With Gaeil Colmcille soaking up all the pressure, John Gormley overturned a Navan attack inside the Gaeils 45 and his quick ball to Oisin O’Reilly set Kells on the attack. O’Reilly’s surging run of 60 yards cut through the Navan defence and he unselfishly laid the ball off to Jack Hogg who palmed to the back of the net.
Hogg followed up his goal with a point one minute later and with Kells in the ascendancy they start find gaps in the Navan defence. Points from Barry, Andrew Gormley and two more from Boshell one with either foot. A lapse in concentration allowed O’Mahony’s through one on one again but Gavagan produced another top class save to keep out the Navan forward.
With 48 minutes played, wing back Kilian Kelly found himself in an advanced position and from 45 yards with the outside of the boot hit a monster score that sailed between the uprights. Finn Tegetmeier got Gaeil Colmcille’s third goal of the game on 49 minutes. Gaeil Colmcille’s shooting was immense throughout the second half and John Gormley and Hogg added further points. Gaeil Colmcille substitute Oisin Walsh nearly made a perfect introduction after a superb through ball by Andrew Gormley, Walsh was left with just the keeper to beat but his effort was kept out with a fine save. Walsh did get his name on the scoresheet with a fine point in the 52nd minute.
Andrew Gormley got his sixth point of the day an Gaeil Colmcille’s final score in between two scores from Navan O’Mahony’s to close out the win and the two points for Kells.
Gaeil Colmcille: Glen Gavagan, Harry Flanagan, Rian Early, Eoghan Flynn, Kilian Kelly (0-01), Tiernan Anderson, David Butler, Oisin O’Reilly (0-01), John Gormley (0-02), Noah Boshell (0-03), Liam Barry (1-01), Finn Tegetmeier (1-02), Conall McGovern, Jack Hogg (1-02), Andrew Gormley (0-06).
Sub: Oisin Walsh (0-01)
