Gaeil Colmcille open season with silverware

A third quarter surge proved to be just the tonic for Gaeil Colmcille to maintain their vice-like grip on the Feis Cup with a 2-9 to 1-9 win over hosts Donaghmore/Ashbourne tonight, writes Davy Rispin.

The Kells men not only scored 2-3 without reply after the break, but they also managed to hold their hosts scoreless for 23 minutes of the second half.

It was the Moore’s who led by the minimum at the interval, 0-6 to 0-5, following a tense, tactical battle but a black card for Donaghmore/Ashbourne’s Leo Reilly two minutes before the break proved to be a significant turning point.

The sides were level three times in the opening 18 minutes with Darragh O’Sullivan, Michael O’Sullivan and Bryan Menton on target for the hosts. Gaeil Colmcille replied in kind to each score with Ajay Tormey and frees from Seamus Mattimoe and Barry Farrelly restoring parity.

Back-to-back scores from James Crumlish and an impressive effort from Leo Reilly edged Padraig Durkan and Shane Traynor’s charges two points in front entering the closing stages of the opening period.

Farrelly and Jamie Browne exchanged frees for their respective sides prior to Reilly receiving his marching orders from referee David Gough for a black card offence.

With the final act of a breathless first half, a sweeping move from the Kells men resulted in Jordan Muldoon firing over to reduce the arrears to one at the break.

With Donaghmore/Ashbourne still down to 14 players for the opening stages of the second half, Brendan Murphy and Eoin Carroll’s team took full advantage with a goal coming from Ryan Farnham following a hopeful Jonny Quigley delivery.

It was just the confidence boost the Kells men needed and their domination continued yielding a further hat-trick of points from Brian Hanlon in quick succession.

Fionn Reilly brought the curtain down on a fairytale third quarter for Colmcille's when he was first on hand to bat in a rebound from Mattimoe’s ferocious drive to open up an unassailable eight-point lead with 15 minutes remaining.

Dylan Brady finally stopped the rot for the men in green with a point in the 53rd minute.

Further scores from Browne and Brady threatened to haul their side back into the contest but a classy score from Gaeil Colmcille substitute Conal Courtney put the game beyond doubt.

Donaghmore/Ashbourne did add a late consolation goal from anAndrew Tormey penalty with the final kick of the game, but it was the Kells outfit who deservedly captured their fourth Feis Cup in eight years.

SCORERS

Gaeil Colmcille - Ryan Farnham 1-0; Fionn Reilly 1-0; Brian Hanlon 0-3 two frees; Barry Farrelly 0-2 frees; Ajay Tormay 0-1; Jordan Muldoon 0-1; Conal Courtney 0-1; Seamus Mattimoe 0-1 free.

Donaghmore/Ashbourne - Andrew Tormey 1-0 penalty; Dylan Brady 0-2; Jamie Browne 0-2 frees; Michael O’Sullivan 0-1 mark; Darragh O’Sullivan 0-1; Bryan Menton 0-1; James Crumlish 0-1; Leo Reilly 0-1.

TEAMS

Gaeil Colmcille - Barry Farrelly; Adam Muldoon, Adam Donnelly, Paul Tormay; Jordan Muldoon, Jonny Quigley, James Reilly; Aaron Browne, Liam Ferguson; Fionn Reilly, Seamus Mattimoe, Ajay Tormay; Ryan Farnham, Brian Hanlon, Rian Early. Subs - Conal Courtney for Farnham 54 mins, Seanie Curran for Early 54m.

Donaghmore/Ashbourne - Eoin Ryan; James Redmond, Evan Quinn, Oisín Daly; Aidan Mackey, Shaun Byrne, Aaron McLoughlin; Kevin Cully, Bryan Menton; James Crumlish, Darragh O’Sullivan, Leo Reilly; Michael O’Sullivan, Jamie Browne, Dylan Brady. Subs - Josh Lancaster for D O’Sullivan 38 mins, Andrew Tormey for Mackey 41m, Sam Benville for M O’Sullivan 52m, Evan O’Kane for Crumlish 59m.

Referee - David Gough (Slane).