Narrow win for Simonstown

Simonstown Gaels made it two SFC wins in six days with a hard-earned 0-14 to 0-13 victory against St Colmcille's tonight in Ashbourne.

Seven points in each half was sufficient to give the Gaels a narrow verdict in a game that produced plenty of good football and a few decisions that had the supporters buzzing throughout and the respective club officials in an animated mood from time-to-time.

There was also what surely must be the shortest (brief) substitution in the history of the Meath SFC (at least) when St Colmcille's sent on Ciaran Kelly 12 minutes into the second-half as a replacement for Shane Crilly.

The 12th minute was still active when Kelly departed on a black card after he impeded Simonstown's Padraig McKeever.
Kelly was on the picth for about 50 seconds - surely a record of some sort?

Prior to that incident, the Simonstown crew, on and off the pitch, were convinced that Brian Conlon had earned a penalty after he was blatantly brought down. Time for VAR - in GAA terms that was a chat between referee Joey Curley and his umpires - the decision was a free out for too many steps.

Both teams ejoyed periods of supremacy in each half, but ultimately what made the difference for Simonstown was that  little bit of experience of digging out a win.

The Navan men trailed (0-7 to 0-8) at half-time as St Colmcille's finished the first-half with a flourish of four points that equalled their early tally. 

James Conlon (three), two each from Ben Brennan and David O'Byrne and one by Graham Reilly accounted for the tally while Simonstown ticked over with McKeever (three), Sean Tobin, Nathan O'Brien and James Heaney on target while between the posts Robbie Burlingham made a some good saves, the best from Jack Reynolds soon after the  start.

Simonstown dictated most of the second-half although the teams were level three times in the third-quarter and St Colmcille's rallied late, but couldn't achieve parity again.

McKeever (four), Sheridan, Ben Hoey and Andrew Kearney claimed the points while the east Meath men had scores from
Conlon (three), Reilly and Stephen Breen.   

SCORERS
Simonstown Gaels - Padraig McKeever 0-7 four frees; Conor Sheridan 0-2; Sean Tobin 0-1; Nathan O'Brien 
0-1; James Heaney 0-1; Ben Hoey 0-1; Andrew Kearney 0-1.
St Colmcille's - James Conlon 0-6 three frees; David O'Byrne 0-2; Ben Brennan 0-2; GRaham Reilly 0-2;
Stephen Breen 0-1.