For anyone in attendance at Dunganny on Friday evening would surely be in agreement that the final football game of 2024 served up a cracker as Gaeil Colmcille and Walterstown left all on the pitch in the Division 2 Final. Four Gaeil Colmcille goals proved pivotal in where the Larry Kearns Cup would reside this Christmas.
The All-Blacks of Walterstown got the scoring underway in the first minute of the game with a point from outside the 45 metre line but The Gaeils response was emphatic as a quick free by Andrew Gormley found an unmarked Jack Hogg who laid the ball off to Oisin Walsh and Walsh made no mistake to find the back of the net. Walsh tagged on a point soon after to see Kells lead by three. Walterstown got their second point of the game, again with a wonderful long distance effort but in the 6th minute the ball was in the Walterstown net after Walsh set up the onrushing Gormley who found the bottom corner with his left boot,
Walterstown struck the next three points in a row to see them trail 0-05 to 2-01 with 14 minutes played in a frantic opening quarter. Gormley twins John and Andrew pointed respectively in the 20th and 21st minute to put four between the sides. Walterstown pointed either side of a Liam Barry free but any momentum by Walterstown was killed when Eoghan Flynn hit the back of the net for Gaeil Colmcille’s third goal of the game and the final score of the half as Kells lead 3-04 to 0-07 at the break.
Walterstown dominated the early possession of the second half and their rewards was the first three points of the half in the 31st, 32nd and 36th minute to close the gap to four points. A free from Walsh stopped the rot for Kells but in the 41st minute, Walterstown were handed a lifeline as after Paul Mooney consulted with his linesman awarded a penalty. Up stepped the Walterstown full-forward who made no mistake driving straight down the middle and it was game on with just two between the sides.
The Gaeil Colmcille backs withstood enormous pressure with the likes of Taidgh Dardis and Shane Callaghan coming up with some last ditch tackles and interceptions. With 47 minutes and after a scramble in the Walterstown penalty area, the ball fell kindly to Andrew Gormley who pointed to leave a goal between the teams. Three minutes later and it looked like Kells had all but sealed the game when Oisin Walsh excellently turned his marker on the 45 and headed straight for goal, he unselfishly laid the ball off to Jack Hogg who found the bottom corner for the fourth Kells goal on the day.
Credit must be given to the Walterstown team as with all the hammer blows they were dealt never lay down and hit four points in a row to leave just two points between the teams with two minutes of normal time remaining. Goal chances came and went for the Johnstown and Walterstown outfit as they sit the side netting, the crossbar and a looping shot that nearly dropped in to the back of the net only for an excellent catch by Gaeil Colmcille goalkeeper Caoimhin Jordan. After holding off the pressure, Kells broke up the field and with a free awarded, Gormley pointed to the sound of the full time whistle and to the relief of the Gaeil Colmcille players, management and supporters. Both sets of players can take huge credit for the quality of football that was on show in difficult conditions.
Gaeil Colmcille: Caoimhin Jordan, Taidgh Dardis, Rian Early, Shane Callaghan, Kilian Kelly, John Gormley (0-01), Charlie Twomey, Oisin O’Reilly, Jack Byrne, Eoghan Flynn (1-00), Liam Barry (0-01), Jack Hogg (1-00), Andrew Gormley (1-03), Oisin Walsh (1-02), Liam Devine.
Subs used: Harry Flanagan, Calum Mitchell.
Squad: Harry Butler, Zak Boshell, Jack Butler, David Butler, Tadhg Melady, Max Chamberlayne, Conor Óg Ferguson, Hugh Farrelly, Oisin Sheridan, Rocco Genocky, Aaron Styles, Bobby Butler, Keelan Sheridan, Tiernan Anderson, Noah Boshell, Bruno Griffin, Fionn Cleary, Tiernan McGovern
