Efficient St Colmcille's deal with wasteful Dunshaughlin
St Colmcille's stumbled across the line to take the SFC Group D verdict with a 2-9 to 1-10 win against Dunshaughlin in a hard-fought encounter at Seneschalstown this evening.
Dunshaughlin produced an inept type of performance, although they were always in contention after a tentative opening quarter when they were rescued by the water break.
That gave them a chance to regain some composure and they benefited subsequently when St Colmcille's collected black cards in the 18th minute (Ben Brennan) and 29th minute (Robbie McCloskey).
That sustained a high-energy and low output Dunshaughlin side that tallied seven first-half wides and added another five in the second-half.
All that wayward finishing was costly and the fact that Dunshaughlin failed to make any meaningful impact on the scoreboard during a 20-minute period when the opposition was reduced to 14 men reflects one area that needs to be addressed.
It's not the only issue that manager Martin Reilly and his selectors must deal with, they also have to work out how to get a better return for the amount of energy expended.
Too often Dunshaughlin stormed forward with great purpose, but coughed up possession inside the opposition 45-metre line and St Colmcille's were able to counter efficiently.
When they were down to 14 men St Colmcille's were more cautious and defended deep, they managed only three points during that period.
Dunshaughlin were also hampered by the loss of Shane Gallogly with a shoulder injury in the 23rd minute and in the second-half they had Niall Murphy red-carded with about 10 minutes remaining.
Only two players scored for Dushaughlin in the opening 59 minutes, Matthew Costello opened his side's account with a 15th minute goal and also sent over four second-half points.
Luke Mitchell claimed two first-half points as his side trailed by 1-2 to 1-5 at the interval and it was David Fildes who closed his side's account a minute from time.
Ben Brennan makes St Colmcille's tick and his 13th minute goal was a vital score, but he departed on a black card after the water break.
Points from Jack Reynolds and David Bell (two each) and James Conlon accounted for St Colmcille's tally. Brennan was hardly back on the pitch when McCloskey earned his stint in the sinbin.
Dunshaughlin looked more capable after the resumption, but it was against 14, and they struggled parity as they squandered a number of goal chances.
St Colmcille's were efficient although they were eventually hauled back to parity (1-8 each) with six minutes remaining.
At that stage St Colmcille's upped the tempo slightly and Bell got through for a deserved goal. The second-hafd points arrived from Conlon (two), Graham Reilly and substitute Ciaran Kelly.
SCORERS
St Colmcille's - David Bell 1-2 one free; James Conlon 0-3 one free; Ben Brennan 1-0; Jack Reynolds 0-2; Graham Reilly 0-1; Ciaran Kelly 0-1.
Dunshaughlin - Matthew Costello 1-4 one free; Luke Mitchell 0-5 two frees; David Fildes 0-1.
TEAMS
St Comcille's - Andrew Beakey; Adam Lynch, Danny McMahon, Carl Mullan; Matthew Breen,Cathal Hilliard, Stephen Breen; Conor O'Byrne, Ruairi O'Grady; Robbie McCloskey, Graham Reilly, Jack Reynolds; Ben Brennan, James Conlon, David Bell. Subs - Jeff Kavanagh for McCloskey 39 mins, Luke Brady for Reynolds 41m, Hugo Collins for Breen 44m, Ciaran Kelly for Reilly 50m, Fearghal Walsh for O'Byrne 55m
Dunshaughlin - Adam McDermott; Oisin Foley, Shane Gallogly, Sean Gaughan; Niall Murphy, Caoimhin King, Niall Byrne; Adam Kealy, Ray Maloney; Matthew Costeool, Matthew Moyles, Tadhg O Dushlaine; Cian Gallogly, Luke Mitchell, David Fildes. Sub - Eric Casserly for S Gallogly (inj) 23 mins.
Referee - Padraig Coyle (Seneschalstown).