Simonstown fell five points in arrears early on before rallying to see off 14-man Gaeil Colmcille in the hoganstand.com SFC Group B round two fixture at Pairc Tailteann on Friday night.

Simonstown 3-12
Gaeil Colmcille 1-12

Simonstown had moved five points clear, 2-8 to 1-6, by the 42nd minute when Gaeil Colmcille's Danny McGovern appeared to strike Shane O'Rourke, who made light of the incident and finished with two fine points to his name.

Colm O'Rourke's charges moved seven points clear at the start of the final quarter when Conor Sheridan directed Nathan O'Brien's pass to the net and the nearby scoreboard read 3-8 to 1-7.

Despite wearing the number 10 shirt Seamus Kenny operated in a sweeper role to good effect. Three fine points from midfielder Gary Arkins kept Shane McAnarney's men in touch. Team captain Brian Hanlon was also prominent in the scoring stakes for the Kells-men and they trimmed the deficit to a goal, 1-11 to 3-8, by the 53rd minute.

Moments later Hanlon had a goal chance comfortably saved by Simonstown 'keeper Ronan Duffy when five points separated the teams. The 'Gaels second win from as many starts was built on scoring contributions from seven players with Sean Tobin leading the charge with 1-5.

Both sides were first round winners. Simonstown had 13 points to spare over Walterstown while Gaeil Colmcille had a minimum margin win over Dunshaughlin. Shane McAnarney at the helm for the Kells-club in succession to Jody Devine who guided the club to IFC success last year.

Despite playing against the breeze blowing from the town end, Gaeil Colmcille burst from the blocks, hitting Simonstown for 1-2 within four minutes of the throw-in.

Barely 90 seconds had passed when Gary Arkins pointed for Gaeil Colmcille. A further minute passed and Mick Foley goaled for the Kells-side after the number six's initial attempt hit the post.

After Simonstown fell five points in arrears, 0-0 to 1-2, their wide count continued to mount, reaching seven by the break. Meanwhile Gaeil Colmcille were off target just once in the opening 30 minutes.

Having notched five wides in the opening 10 minutes, Simonstown erased the deficit swiftly and by the 20th minute they had engineered a 10-point turnaround.

Sean Tobin's was to the fore in the scoring stakes for the north-Navan men. His opening score coming in the 11th minute after Gaeil Colmcille netminder Justin Carry Lynch was deemed guility of time wasting. From the subsequent throw-in by referee Padraig Coyle, Simonstown were awarded a close range free.

Before the opening quarter ended, Simonstown levelled matters. First Tobin nutmegged Carry Lynch at the end of a fine move before landing his second free.

Simonstown hit the front 17 minutes when Conor Sheridan landed a 45. Seamus Kenny ignited the move that led a superb Tobin point from play.

Simonstown were awarded a 20th minute penalty when Stephen Reddy was deemed to have fouled Mark McCabe and the latter dispatched the ball to the net despite the best efforts of Carry Lynch. That left five points in it, 2-4 to 1-2.

The scoring rate slackened in the run up to the break while a Tobin effort from play was the pick of those scores and left the 'Gaels leading by 2-6 to 1-4 at half-time.

The sides shared four points within 12 minutes of the restart. Then within five minutes McGovern's 42nd minute dismissal and Sheridan's goal shortly after tilted the balance Simonstown's way and consign Gaeil Colmcille to their first SFC defeat since returning to the senior ranks.

Simonstown - Ronan Duffy; Stephen O'Reilly, Ian O'Rourke, Niall McMahon; Niall Kane (0-1), Joe Lyons, Eanna Donoghue; Declan Gaffney, Shane O'Rourke (0-2); Seamus Kenny, Shane Barry, Mark McCabe (1-0 pen); Sean Tobin (1-5, 0-3 fs), Conor Sheridan (1-1, 0-1 45), Nathan O'Brien (0-1). Subs - Colin Wickham for McMahon (BC 42), Stephen Moran for Gaffney (48), Andrew Kearney (0-2, 1f) for Barry (53).

Gaeil Colmcille - Justin Carry Lynch; Liam Ferguson, Robbie Flanagan, Barry Tormay; Stephen Reddy, Mick Foley (1-0), Henry Barry; Gary Arkins (0-3), Cormac Keegan; Declan Smith, Brian Hanlon (0-5,1f), Oisin Reilly (0-2); Seamus Mattimoe (0-1f), Martin Barrett, Danny McGovern (0-1). Subs - Shane Reilly for Smith (48), Cormac O'Reilly for Keegan (60).

Referee - Padraig Coyle (Seneschalstown) Tweet

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