Two Oisin Reilly goals were central as Gaeil Colmcille overcame Dunboyne on Sunday evening at Pairc Tailteann
Gaeil Colmcille ...... 3-8
Dunboyne ............ 0-13
The pendulum swung back and forth before the Kells-side showed considerable resolve to fend off a late Dunboyne rally.
Ahead by 1-5 to 0-7 at the break, Reilly netted twice within six minutes of resumption to put Lar Wall's men in control, leading by 3-7 to 0-7.
Reilly's first was a tribute to his composure as he patiently wove his way into an optimum position to goal within 40 seconds of the restart.
A Seamus Mattimoe forward mark and a Fionn Reilly effort from play also added to Gaeil Colmcille's advantage.
The outcome leaves Gaeil Colmcille in a strong position to reach the semi-finals while Dunboyne hopes of landing the Keegan Cup this time appear to be gone unless they can advance from this group on scoring difference.
Dunboyne deserve credit for their response to the crisis. They posted six points in seven minutes to be just a goal in arrears midway through the half with momentum behind them.
Conor Bradley's goal attempt skied over while sub Robbie McCarthy close range shot hit the side netting.
Just three points separated the teams before Oisin Reilly wrapped up the scoring in the 55th minute having been well placed by Mattimoe to end a 19-minute scoreless spell for Gaeil Colmcille
Then, Dunboyne 'keeper Cian Flynn used his height to good advantage to deny Brian Hanlon a point from a 45.
In one last throw of the dice, Dunboyne introduced the experienced David Gallagher but to no avail.
One negative on an overcast evening was the difficulty in reading the numbers on both sets of jerseys.
Playing towards the town end, Dunboyne broke from the throw-in and but for fine block by Justin Carry-Lynch might have goaled inside 20 seconds.
Donal Lenihan landed the subsequent 45. The full-forward was to the fore as Dunboyne moved 0-4 to 0-1 clear by the 10th minute.
The number 14 added a further brace (one free) to move Dunboyne five clear and apparently coasting to another win leading by 0-6 to 0-1 midway through the half.
Post water-break, Gaeil Colmcille got a grip on matters and levelled matters, 1-3 to 0-6, when Brian Hanlon goaled in the 22nd minute with help from Mattimoe.
An Oisin Reilly point moved the Kells-men ahead for the first time. Evan Sheridan doubled that lead before Gavin McCoy pulled on back for Dunboyne before the break.
Next up: Dunboyne v St Colmcille's, Sun Aug 30, 15:00, Stamullen.
Gaeil Colmcille v Dunshaughlin, Sun Aug 30, 15:00, Walterstown
Scorers: . Gaeil Colmcille - Oisin Reilly 2-2; Brian Hanlon 1-1 (0-1f), Seamus Mattimoe 0-2 (f, forward mark). Fionn Reilly, Evan Sheridan, Keith Reilly 0-1 each.
Dunboyne - Donal Lenihan 0-7 (3fs, 1 45), Conor Bradley, Gavin McCoy 0-2 each; Ronan Jones, Cathal Finn 0-1
Dunboyne - Cian Flynn; Jordan McLoughlin, Seamus Lavin, Cian O'Dwyer; Craig Lowndes, Conor Doran, Gavin McCoy; Shane McEntee, Ronan Jones; Cathal Lacey, Michael Murphy, David McEntee; Jason Daly, Donal Lenihan, Conor Bradley. Subs - Robbie McCarthy for S McEntee (28), Niall Jones for Daly (ht), Cathal Finn for Lacey (38), Jack Scannell for McLoughlin (51), David Gallagher for McCoy (60).
Gaeil Colmcille - Justin Carry-Lynch; Jordan Muldoon, Paul Tormay, James Reilly; Johnny Quigley, Seanie Curran, Fionn Reilly; Liam Ferguson, Oisin Reilly; Evan Sheridan, Keith Reilly, Conall Courtney; Seamus Mattimoe, Barry Tormay, Brian Hanlon. Subs - Martin Barrett for K Reilly (30 +1), Ryan Farnham for Courtney (47), Barry Smith for Curran (56).
Referee - Cormac Reilly (St Mary's)
Gaeil Colmcille Report
Gaeil Colmcille 3-08 St. Peter's, Dunboyne 0-13
In what was such a great pity, only 110 tickets were up for purchase in what was one of the most entertaining games of football in recent years. Gaeil Colmcille and St. Peter's, Dunboyne served up a fascinating game of end to end football.
The 2018 Keegan Cup winners came out with intent and took an early lead 0-02 to 0-01 lead with five minutes played. Playing a high press on the Gaeil Colmcille kickouts, Dunboyne's pressure and pace was causing the Kells men a lot of problems and hit four points in a row to take a commanding lead 0-06 to 0-01.
Kells looked for any kind of a score to settle their nerves and got it in the 17th minute when Seamus Mattimoe hit a monster free at the hospital end from right out on the terrace side. That point took both teams to the water break which Gaeil Colmcille were happily to take.
A quick score after the restart from Keith Reilly took Kells to with three points. The turning point of the first half came on 23 minutes when Evan Sheridan broke up a Dunboyne attack on the Kells endline and Gaeil Colmcille worked the ball up the pitch to Brian Hanlon who was left with just the keeper to beat and he did so with his left foot.
Two further points in a row, the first from Oisin Reilly and the second from Sheridan saw Kells take the lead for the first time. Dunboyne did manage to get the last score before the break and unbelievably Gaeil Colmcille took a 1-05 to 0-07 lead at Half-time.
In what can only be described as the perfect start to the half, Seamus Mattimoe beat his man to a ball into the forward line, Mattimoe did incredibly well to beat off his marker to lay off to the on rushing Oisin Reilly to fire to the back of the net.
Mattimoe got the next score after a majestic catch, called his mark and popped the ball over the bar. Fionn Reilly followed that up with a point of his own and with Kells now asserting all the pressure, Hanlon capitalised on a loose kickout and quick thinking played Reilly through for his second goal of the game to give Kells a commanding lead.
Dunboyne dug deep and clawed their way back into the game and score by acore they hit six in a row to see them get back to just within three points and they wouldn't have been happy when Referee Cormac O'Reilly called for the second half water break as they had all the momentum.
In a brief water break, Lar Wall got his message and the Gaeil Colmcille substitutions made a big impact as Gaeil Colmcille defensively closed out the game as they held Dunboyne scoreless in the final quarter with Martin Barrett, Adam Muldoon, Ryan Farnham and Barry Smith all putting their stamp on the game. Midfielder Oisin Reilly got the insurance point for Gaeil Colmcille in the 57th minute to see Gaeil Colmcille move to the top of Group D ahead of their third round clash with Dunshaughlin.
Gaeil Colmcille: J Carry-Lynch, J Muldoon, P Tormay, B Tormay, J Quigley, S Curran, J Reilly, L Ferguson, O Reilly (2-02), E Sheridan (0-01), K Reilly (0-01), C Courtney, S Mattimoe (0-02), F Reilly (0-01), B Hanlon (1-01)
Subs: M Barrett for K Reilly, A Muldoon for Quigley, R Farnham for Courtney, B Smith for Curran