Winning start for Gaeil Colmcille

Gaeil Colmcille got the defence of their A FL Div 1 title off to a winning start at Paddy O'Brien Park in Navan tonight.

Meeting Navan O'Mahonys for the second time in a week, Gaeil Colmcille carved out a 0-13 to 1-6 victory with the foundations put in place in the opening half.

After the first 30 minutes Gaeil Colmcille were ahead by 0-11 to 1-5 and the scoring rate dropped completely in the  second-half.

Gaeil Colmcille had Sean Curran black-carded soon after the resumption, but they survived unscathed on the scoreboard as the hosts, minus their county players and a number of others, strugg;ed to capitalise on the extra man for 10 minutes.

SUPPORTERS AT TONIGHT'S GAME

Seamus Matrtimoe claimed five first-half points for Gaeil Colmcille with Danny McGovern and Cormac Mattimoe each
registering a brace and one apiece by Oisin Reilly and Jamie Reilly.

O'Mahonys had a Jake Regan goal in the opening minutes for a positive start.

Regan, Eoin Joyce, Cathal Smyth, Duggie Dillon and Gary O'Brien claimed the points.

Scorekeeping was easy in the second-half with Regan on the mark for O'Mahonys and midfielders Liam Ferguson and 
Conall Courtney on target for Gaeil Colmcille.

The exchanges became heated in the closing stages with players and team officials involved along the sideline, but referee Martin Dawson was in a concillatory mood.

NEXT UP
Second round - Oldcastle v Navan O'Mahonys; Gaeil Colmcille v Wolfe Tones.

WATCH THE CLOSING MINUTES OF THE GAME