Kells men lay semi-final bogey to rest
A SCINTALLATING final 20 minutes booked Gaeil Colmcille their place in the Meath SFC decider for the first time since they last lifted the Keegan Cup in 1991.
The Kells men had lost four semi-finals in the last five years and it looked as if that losing streak was going to continue when Na Fianna increased their 0-9 to 0-6 interval lead to six points early in the second half.
The outstanding Seamus Mattimoe kick-started the Gaeil Colmcille revival, and what a comeback it was as the town side out-scored their opponents 2-9 to 0-1 in the last 20 minutes to set up a final date with Ratoath who defeated them in the semi-final 12 months ago.
For long spells in the opening half Gaeil Colmcille struggled to produce anything close to their best form and it was underdogs
Na Fianna who seized the initiative. Sean Martin had the Enfield side ahead inside a minute after Jack McNally had earlier crashed an effort off the bar.
With Ethan Devine a real driving force and Shane Walsh excellent in attack Na Fianna led 0-4 to 0-2, but Gaeil Colmcille were back level at the first water break. A Mattimoe free had Lar Wall’s side ahead for the first time on 21 minutes, but Na Fianna hit five successive points, including three from Walsh, to lead 0-9 to 0-5. They eventually had to settle for a three-point interval lead after Mattimoe pulled a point back on the stroke of half-time.
Further points from Walsh (two) and Dan Queeney left six between the teams on 35 minutes. The Kells men looked in bother at that stage and were forced into a number of changes. Two quick points from Mattimoe got them moving and Liam Ferguson added another to leave three between the teams.
Ferguson then set up Brian Hanlon for a superbly-taken goal to leave the sides level just before the second water break.
Hanlon pointed his side ahead from a ’45 on 49 minutes and Gaeil Colmcille were in full flow at that stage and Mattimoe, from long range, and Hanlon (free) added further points to stretch the advantage.
That lead increased as the winners pressed home their superiority through Mattimoe and Hanlon by the 57th minute.
Fionn Reilly put the icing on the cake in added time after Mattimoe picked him out with a peach of a pass and the wing back hit an effort low past keeper Shane Geraghty.
GAEIL COLMCILLE: Justin Carry Lynch; Jordan Muldoon, Paul Tormay, James Reilly; Johnny Quigley, Seanie Curran, Fionn Reilly 1-0; Liam Ferguson 0-1, Oisin Reilly; Evan Sheridan, Keith Reilly, Conall Courtney; Seamus Mattimoe 0-9 (6f), Martin Barrett 0-1, Brian Hanlon 1-4 (2f, 1 ’45). Subs: Barry Smith for K Reilly (34), Adam Muldoon for Curran (35), Ryan Farnham for Sheridan (44), Philip Ward for Hanlon (59), Cian Doogan for Barrett (60).
NA FIANNA: Shane Geraghty; Sean Rafferty, Michael Farley, Sean Martin 0-2; Jake McCreddin, Oisin McCloskey, Conor Downey; Michael Collins 0-1, Daniel Queeney 0-1f; Owen McDonnell, Luke Kelly, Ethan Devine 0-1; Shane Walsh 0-7 (3f, 1m), Jamie Queeney 0-1, Jack McNally. Subs: Damien Downey for Collins (45), Evan Henrick for McDonnell (48), Dean Henrick for McNally (58).
David Coldrick (Blackhall Gaels)