Saving the best until last, Gaeil Colmcille third string made the trip to Curraha on Monday evening for the fourth round of the Premier Championship Division 7. Gaeil Colmcille hoping to bounce back from the last round defeat to Kilmainham two weeks previous.
The home side dominated the early exchanges but shooting into a breeze they failed to register a score from numerous chances. The opposite could be said for Gaeil Colmcille as in the fifth minute, the (very) old reliable Gary Arkins pointed to give Kells the lead. That score though was soon cancelled out when Curraha pointed in the sixth minute.
From the 8th to the 16th minute Gaeil Colmcille rattled off four scores in a row, the first a point from Gary McGovern from 40 yards out, two minutes later and it was the turn of Dylan Roche to hit an wonderful score off the right foot. Arkins added his second point in the 12th minute and with 16 minutes on the clock, Zak Griffin tore through the Curraha defence with a goal on his mind but his shot rose high and over the bar for a point and saw Kells lead 0-05 to 0-01 at the water break.
The Gaeil Colmcille defence was in good order with the full back line of Oran Carolan, Liam Byrne and Max Finlay keeping the hosts out until the 23rd minute until they got their second score of the game. Gary McGovern restored The Gaeils four point lead and when Arkins caught a magnificent advanced mark, his hand rising like The Undertaker at Wrestlemania, he stood up and pointed to leave five between the sides. Curraha got their third point in the 28th minute but a Cian Donlon point just on the stroke of half-time left Gaeil Colmcille 0-08 to 0-03 ahead.
The ‘Ha struck for the opening score of the second half from a free kick but The Gaeils replied with the perfect response after Arkins was taken down inside the large square, referee Pat Clarke outstretched his arms and signaled for a penalty. Up stepped Gary McGovern to finish to the back of the net. The goal sparked life into Curraha and they hit three scores in a row to nullify the Kells goal. A goal looked on the cards also for Curraha but for wing-back Conor Murray to come up with great interception to deny the score.
Arkins settled the Gaeil Colmcille nerves with a point in the 46th minute to give Kells a firm hold on the game going into the second half water break. A Curraha free was matched when substitute Darragh Smyth pointed for the Gaeils. The ‘Ha never gave up and in a four minute blitz the sides were level as they struck for 1-02 to set up a tight ending. Eanna Ryan (Justy and Sugar’s friend) got the call from the bench and Gaeil Colmcille went more direct into the full-forward line and with Arkins beginning to get frustrated about the man handling off the backs inside, he took his anger out on the referee, but this seemed to fall on deaf ears, plus the calls from the Curraha backs of “Ah shut up and tweet about it” didn’t help matters.
Credit to Arkins he dusted himself down and restored Gaeil Colmcille’s lead in the the 58th minute, this was followed by a free kick one minute later. Curraha kept the Gaeils honest and put one between the sides going into injury time. With hands on the ball being crucial, the ball broke kindly to Gaeil Colmcille and Dylan Roche broke free and struck over as Kells once again led by two at the death of the game. Curraha did pull one score back and as they went in search for an equalizing score, Niall Williams came up trumps for Kells to regain possession just as the referee blew for full time to seal the win.
Gaeil Colmcille: James Flanagan, Oran Carolan, Liam Byrne, Max Finlay, Niall Williams, Sean King, Conor Murray, Ben Shine, Sean Cleary, Dylan Roche (0-02), Zak Griffin (0-01), Ryan O’Boyle, Gary McGovern (1-02), Gary Arkins (0-06), Cian Donlon (0-01).
Subs: Darragh Smyth (0-01), Brian Byrne, Eanna Ryan, (Alan Tormey didn’t get on again)
