BY CATHAL CREMER
Colmcille 1-13 Fr. Manning Gaels 1-6
Donie McKeon and Tommy Doyle racked up an impressive tally of 1-9, 1-8 of which was from play, to book a semi final appearance against Killoe. The seven point winning margin could have been wider with Colmcille shooting nine wides some from very scoreable positions.
Colmcille held a 1-6 to 1-2 advantage at half time and were it not for a scoring blitz that yielded 1-1 in the space of a minute for Fr. Manning Gaels it could have been much worse. WIth twenty minutes played Colmcille were 1-2 to 0-1 ahead until the Drumlish side drew level within sixty seconds. Wing back Cian Brady ran all of 65 metres with the ball and unleashed a bullet to the top corner of the net for a superb individual goal and thirty seconds later team captain Padraic Davis pointed.
Davis opened the scoring with a point in the third minute but the lead was short lived as two minutes later McKeon goaled. A great team move involving Declan Farrell, Doyle and McKeon culminated in the corner forward cooly slotting home under P.J. Ginty.
Doyle pointed himself in the seventh minute after Declan C Reilly disposed Aaron Quinn inside the twenty metre line. Colmcille could have scored a second goal but Mickey Kelly took Paul McKeon’s effort off the line just a minute later. McKeon sent over a close range free with Johnny Kane fouling last years county minor.
The Gaels then hit their purple patch to draw level but Colmcille responded well hitting four unanswered points before the break. McKeon hit two points, one from a free, and Farrell fisted over when he won the ball off Liam Gill.
McKeon slotted over a fine point with his left with Doyle sending through a great ball to his opposite corner forward. 1-6 to 1-2 at the break.
If the Gaels were to get themselves back into the game they needed to start of the second half with a few scores but it was last years beaten finalists who registered the first two points via substitute Gormley and Doyle. McKeon added another spectacular point from way out on the right before Kieran Gill fired over for the Drumlish men.
Doyle raised another white flag with Declan C Reilly spreading the ball beautifully for the north Longford club. County minor Pauric Gill got his name on the scoresheet but he had a glorious opportunity for a goal minutes later but his effort just went the wrong side of the post.
Farrell added another point for the eventual winners just before the thirty minute mark to leave his side 1-13 to 1-4 ahead. Kieran Gill was fouled in the small rectangle but David Hannify’s effort rattled the crossbar and over the bar.
Hannify added another point in stoppage time but there was no denying that Colmcille were worthy of their seven point victory and look on course to recapture the county championship for the first time in fifty years.
COLMCILLE: Gavin Tonra, Padraig Murtagh, Noel Farrell, Ollie McGivney, Brian Brady, Gary Murtagh, Francis Kavanagh, Declan Reilly, Enda Farrell, Paul McKeon (0-1, 1f), Declan Reilly, J.P. Reilly, Tommy Doyle (0-4), Declan Farrell (0-2), Donie McKeon (1-5, 1f).
SUBS USED:- Anthony Gormley (0-1) for J.P. Reilly (26 mins), Paul Murtagh for P McKeon (54 mins), Phillip Brady for T Doyle (59 mins).
FR. MANNING GAELS: David Collum, Mickey Kelly, Aaron Quinn, Liam Gill, Cian Brady (1-0), Mark Duffy, Fergal Reilly, David Hannify (0-2), Kieran Gill (0-1), Johnny Kane, Padraic Davis (0-2), Pauric Davis, Pauric Gill (0-1), Emmet Collum, John Fitzpatrick, David Cassidy.
SUBS USED:- Martin Mulleady for L Gill (half-time), Sean Diffley for E Collum (41 mins), J.P. Farrelly for D Cassidy (54 mins).
REFEREE: MIchael O’ Brien (Longford Slashers).
Minor
Our minor amalgamation Colmcille/Clonbroney were beaten by Clonguish on Monday evening 25th. We are due to have a game in this competition on Thursday 4th against Carrick/Sarsfields. Our U/12’s had a great win over Killoe in the championship on Wednesday 27th last. We were trailing throughout the game but came back to win by four points. Well done to all our players. We are due to have two games in this competition this week, on Monday 1st against St. James Ardagh and on Wednesday against Longford Slashers, results of these games next week. Our U/12’s lost to Mullahoran in the B Final of a tournament which took place at Derrycasson on Saturday last. Players please check fixtures list for confirmation of upcoming games.
The club extends its sympathy to Marty McNerney and family on the death of his mother at the weekend R.I.P.
