Gaeil Colmcille 5-13 St. Pats 3-14

Gaeil Colmcille were crowned Division 4 Hurling League champions with a five point win over St. Patrick's in an entertaining final at Paddy O'Brien Park, Navan.

In a contest that featured eight goals, the Gaeil's ability to raise the most green flags proved decisive. 

St. Patrick's opened the scoring with a point from play but Kells responded almost immediately through Conor Óg Ferguson. St. Patrick's first major arrived after four minutes, but within a minute Conor Og had levelled matters with a well-taken goal of his own in a frantic opening spell.

The Stamullen side continued their bright start with a succession of points, including two frees to move three clear after 10 minutes. Conor Og converted a free before Conal McGovern added an excellent point from play to keep his side in touch. The sides traded points, Conor Og converting another free, before St. Patrick's struck for a second goal midway through the half to regain the initiative.

Once again the Gaeils answered in emphatic fashion, Conor Og grabbing his second goal of the evening and Evan Sheridan added a point from play to swing momentum towards the Kells men.

For the remainder of the half Ferguson, continued to punish any indiscretions with three successive frees, while also adding two excellent points from play. Dylan Roche, who was earlier denied by a fine save, found the net on the stroke of half-time to cap off a blistering second quarter for the Gaeils that limited the opposition to a single pointed free. 

That gave Gaeil Colmcille a deserved 4-9 to 2-8 interval advantage.

The second half could hardly have started better for Kells. Shortly after the resumption Dylan Roche reacted quickest to fire home his second goal of the game. Although St. Pats replied with a pointed free, Roche quickly followed with a point from play before Eoghan Flynn also got on the scoresheet as Kells appeared to be pulling away.

To their credit, St. Patrick's refused to give in. Over the next 15 minutes they scored 1-05 including 3 points from frees as their corner forward continued a flawless performance with placed balls. The only Kells score during this period came from a Conor Og free as the Gaeils had to rely on resolute defending, particularly from Paulie Tormey, to keep their opponents at bay. As the game entered injury time Conor Og, who finished with an impressive personal tally, steadied the ship with a crucial free to ensure there would be no dramatic late comeback.

After the game Fintan Porter presented the Division 4 HL cup to Gaeil Colmcille captain Evan Sheridan.

Gaeil Colmcille: Cormac Mattimoe, Fionn Morris, Paulie Tormey, Taidgh Dardis, Cormac O'Reilly, Cormac Ferguson, Oisin O'Reilly, Gary McGovern, Tiernan Anderson, Liam Ferguson, Evan Sheridan 0-1, Eoghan Flynn 0-1, Conor Óg Ferguson 3-09 (0-6 frees), Dylan Roche 2-01,  Conal McGovern 0-1, 

Subs: John Gormley, Max Chamberlayne, Andrew Gormley, Noah Boshell, Sean Thornton, Stephen Reddy, Zach Boshell

Referee: Bernard Heaney

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