It wasn't pretty but Cilles crack on
This wasn’t a match for the purist but St Colmcille’s will care not as they booked their passage to the knockout stages in Group C of the SFC with a 1-9 to 0-7 win over Na Fianna at Simonstown this evening, writes Sean Wall.
The Cille’s win also ensured that Simonstown also made it to the last eight with a game to spare while Na Fianna’s fate as well as that of Seneschalstown will be decided in the relegation play-off.
This was a slow burner throughout with both teams packing their defence whenever the other had possession and as a result scores and open passages of play were difficult to come by.
The east Meath side were much better in most facets of the play including their ability to create and take scores. They performed solidly in defence and moved the ball with much more purpose from defence to attack.
A goal from Ben Brennan after 25 minutes separated the sides’ at half-time, Cille’s leading 1-2 to 0-2.
That crucial score arrived from a Cathal Hilliard delivery that Na Fianna failed to clear and Luke Conlon picked up the loose ball before passing to Brennan who blasted to the net from close range.
A heavy shower just after the throw-in made life difficult for players but could hardly be blamed for all the sloppy handling and misdirected passes from both teams throughout.
Na Fianna struck three wides in the opening 10 minutes, including a free from in front of the posts from Shane Walsh before Walsh (free) opened his side’s account.
Both of Cille’s opening half points came from James Conlon frees while the only point from play for the half hour was scored by returning Na Fianna midfielder Ethan Devine.
Devine and sub Mick Farrelly added to the Na Fianna tally within four minutes of the restart but this was to be their best spell over the hour.
Adam Lynch got forward for a Cille’s point and Andrew Beakey (free), Brennan and James Conlon (free) stretched their lead in the third quarter.
Na Fianna did have chances but their final pass and finishing was poor at times. They didn’t add to their tally until substitute Jamie Queeney pointed to make it 1-7 to 0-6 after 57 minutes.
Cille’s were well in control at that stage and they closed out the game with late points from Ben and Oisin Brennan. They finished with 14 after Ben Brennan was black carded in added time.
St Colmcille’s – Andrew Beakey (0-1 free); Adam Lynch (0-1), Cathal Hilliard, Cathal Monaghan; Matthew Breen, Liam Stafford, Carl Mullan; Evan Breen, Ruairi O’Grady; Oisin Brennan (0-1), Luke Conlon, Shaun Leonard; Eoghan McCloughan, Ben Brennan (1-2), James Conlon (0-3 three frees). Subs – David O’Byrne for L Conlon 36m, Eoin Gillick for Leonard 41m, Luke Hanan (0-1) for O Brennan blood 46-51m, Oisin McAleenan for Mullan 51m, Hanan for J Conlon 55m, Sean O’Donoghue for McCloughan 57m.
Na Fianna – Shane Geraghty; James Geagan, Sean Rafferty, Oran Smullen; Ciaran Regan, Peter Slevin, Sean Martin; Ethan Devine (0-2), Owen McDonnell; Jack McNally, Shane Walsh (0-2 two frees), Luke Kelly; Sean McDonnell, Sam Jordan, Conor Downey. Subs – Mick Farley (0-1) for Downey half-time, Cormac Rafferty (0-1) for McNally 43m, Jamie Queeney (0-1) for S McDonnell 52m, John Baldwin for Geagan 56m, Patrick Jordan for Kelly 60m.
Referee – Cormac Reilly (St Mary’s).