Gaeil Colmcille and Donaghmore/Ashbourne met in the inaugural Premier Cup Division 5 Final under lights at a wet and windy Ashbourne.
Gaeil Colmcille’s third team we’re hoping to go the full 2022 unbeaten after lifting the Premier 7 Championship title earlier in the year and Ajay Tormey sent them on their way when he pointed in the opening minute of the game. Two points in a row from Captain Gary McGovern stretched Kells lead out to three points.
Gaeil Colmcille playing with the aid of a stiff breeze went five points to no score up in the the ninth minute thanks to points from Sean Cleary and Shane Bennett. Donaghmore/Ashbourne got their opening score of the game in the 10th minute but that was cancelled out by McGovern one minute later.
Donaghmore/Ashbourne hit a purple patch scoring three of the next four points in the game to leave just a goal between the sides with 21 minutes played. Gaeil Colmcille knew that a three point lead wouldn’t be enough with how strong the conditions were and personal changes were made with two of those accounting for the next two points of the game as Cormac Mattimoe and Gary Arkins pointing.
With the game heading into first half injury time, Kells got the perfect end to the half when Tormey tore down on goal and his low shot found the back of the net for the games opening goal, this was soon followed by a point off the left boot of substitute Dylan Roche to see Gaeil Colmcille lead 1-10 to 0-04 at the half-time break.
Donaghmore/Ashbourne came out with intent at the start of the second half and got the opening score of the half. Any hope of Donaghmore/Ashbourne staging a comeback was knocked back when club stalwart and legend Gary Arkins struck for a goal and a point to see Kells push 12 points clear as The Gaeils stretched 2-11 to 0-05 clear.
A Dylan Roche point was followed by flour unanswered points from The Moores to close the gap to nine points. Just as Donaghmore/Ashbourne clawed their way back into the game, Kells would strike for a goal and in the 54th minute Tormey picked out substitute Caolán McConnell and McConnell rounded the keeper and blasted to the net to kill off the game.
Donaghmore/Ashbourne did finish the game off strong with a point and a penalty with the last kick of the game to leave the score Gaeil Colmcille 3-12 to 1-10 as the Kells side picked up their second trophy of the year.
Gaeil Colmcille: Chris Doyle, Max Finlay, Fionn Smith, Robbie Fox, Cormac O’Reilly, Niall Williams, Finn Mullan, Sean Cleary (0-01), Kevin Carpenter, Zak Griffin, Shane Bennett (0-01), Sean Thornton, Ajay Tormey (1-01), Gary McGovern (0-04), Stephen Mooney.
Subs: Dylan Roche (0-02), Gary Arkins (1-02), Cormac Mattimoe (0-01), Caolán McConnell (1-00), Barry Farrelly, Kristapus Vitkuskas, Conor Murray, Brian Byrne, Darragh Smyth, Cian Donlon
