Cille’s not ready to throw in the towel
ST COLMCILLE’S are still pointless after what has proven to be a baptism of fire to the senior ranks following this defeat at Pairc Tailteann last Tuesday evening.
Still finding their feet at this level, the understrength Cille’s showed glimpses of what they are capable of and must feel they still have a chance of making the knockout stages despite this latest setback.
So far they have been beaten by the 2015 and 2016 Keegan Cup champions and their next test will come on Sunday week when they take on Blackhall Gaels who are also pointless from two outings.
Joe Sweeney, Ciaran Ward, Robbie McCloskey, Jordan Brown and James Conlon were all missing against O’Mahony’s and their absence proved too great a handicap.
O’Mahonys too were short, including Stephen and David
O’MAHONY’S ST COLMCILLE’S 0-12 0-9
Bray and Cormac McGuinness, but their absence didn’t have as severe an impact.
The game as a spectacle was disappointing, with too much wayward shooting and too many elementary errors, but O’Mahony’s deserved their win despite coming under pressure in the latter stages.
The seasiders led only once, following Ben Brennan’s fine longrange effort on 16 minutes, but they remained in touch throughout despite having to work that little bit harder for scores.
O’Mahony’s were ahead following a Shane Gillespie point within 20 seconds of the start, but they tallied four wides before the impressive Ruairi O Coileain hit their next score on 13 minutes.
Well-struck scores from Brennan (two) and Graham Reilly had the Cille’s ahead early in the second quarter, but at half-time O’Mahonys enjoyed a 0-6 to 0-4 lead.
O Coileain, with his second score of the evening, restored O’Mahony’s lead before Jack Reynolds accounted for Cille’s last score of the half on 27 minutes. O Coileain and Jake Regan (both frees) added to the O’Mahony’s tally before half-time.
The town side upped the tempo at the start of the second half and by the 43rd minute had raced into a double-scores lead, 0-10 to 0-5.
O Coileain, James O’Reilly, Jake Regan and Paul Whelehan were all on target in that productive spell, while a pointed free from Ben Brennan was the only response at the other end.
However, Des Lane’s side slowly clawed their way back into contention in the final quarter. Reilly, David O’Byrne and Ciaran Kelly (free) were all on target before a Conor O’Byrne point left just two between the sides on 26 minutes.
O Coileain, with his fifth point, responded to put three between the teams and while Cille’s did their best to manufacture a match-saving goal their efforts were thwarted by a solid O’Mahony’s rearguard. ST COLMCILLE’S: Andrew Beakey; Tomas O Hoistin, Jamie McDonnell, Adam Lynch; Cathal Hilliard, Ian Mullen, Jeff Kavanagh; Conor O’Byrne 0-1, David O’Byrne 0-1; Ciaran Kelly 0-1f, Ben Brennan 0-3 (1f), Jack Reynolds 0-1; Darragh Brodigan, Donal Meagher, Graham Reilly 0-2. Subs: David Sheeran for Brodigan (52), James McElearney for Reynolds (56).
David Coldrick (Blackhall Gaels)