The Gaeil Colmcille Premier side had the honours playing the first Adult fixture of 2022 when they made the trip South to Sean Eiffe Park to face Ratoath in the first round of the inaugural Premier Cup.
Gaeil Colmcille fielded a very youthful side with nine of the starting fifteen being eighteen or younger and from those nine, five were making their adult debuts for the club. The game got underway in horrendous conditions with the rain pouring from the heavens and both sides struggled to come to grips with the slippery ball.
Ratoath got the opening score of the game five minutes in, after a loose ball feel kindly to the forward who smashed to the back of the net to give the hosts the perfect start. The goal was quickly followed by a point to give Ratoath the perfect start.
Gaeil Colmcille got their first score of the game in the tenth minute and it was a perfect reply to Ratoath’s start, midfielder Ajay Tormey gathered the ball at the half back line and good inter linking play with his midfield partner Sean King and wing forward Alex Williams and the hard working Eoin Doogan saw Tormey get on the end of the move and his low effort found the back of the net.
Barry Farrelly who must have felt 100 years old in such a youthful forward line was winning plenty of dirty ball and got his rewards for his efforts when he was founded for a free in the 12th minute which he duly obliged and slotted over the bar to bring the teams level. Kells were hit with a sucker punch moments later when Ratoath struck for their second goal of the game. This was followed by a pointed free too see them restore their four point lead.
Gaeil Colmcille number 15 Jamie Jordan was making hard working runs throughout the opening 20 minutes and was unlucky not to hit the back of the net when he pulled on a ball close to the goal but for the upright to save Ratoath. Jordan wouldn’t have to wait long after excellent work by Williams out Jordan through on goal and his shot rifled to the roof of the net to leave just a point between the sides at half-time.
Ratoath started the second half like they did the first and hit three points in a row to open up a four point lead once more. Tormey clawed the lead back to three points in the 38th minute when he split the posts and the introduction of Gary McGovern proved fruitful when McGovern got on the end of a rebounded shot and rocketed the ball to the back of the net to draw Kells level once more.
Credit must go to Ratoath as every time Gaeil Colmcille drew on level terms they found a way to lift themselves and five scores in a row including a third goal saw them take a commanding lead into the final quarter. McGovern added a free to his goal with seven minutes remaining but that was cancelled out by a Ratoath point. 18 year Substitute Fionn Smith made got his name on the scoresheet with the final point of the game and an excellent one at that to leave six points between the sides and that’s how the game would finish.
Overall a promising start of the year for Gaeil Colmcille who will welcome Donaghmore/Ashbourne to Grangegodden for Round 2 on Saturday coming.
Gaeil Colmcille: Sean Thornton, Kristupas Vitkuskas, Brian Byrne, Max Finlay, Cormac O’Reilly, Liam Byrne, Finn Mullan, Ajay Tormey (1-01), Sean King, Alex Williams, Eoin Doogan, Niall Williams, Andrew Butler, Barry Farrelly (0-01), Jamie Jordan (1-00).
Subs: Gary McGovern (1-01), Cormac Mattimoe, Cormac Ferguson, Fionn Smith (0-01), Gary Arkins
