For the first-half of this SFC opener, newcomers Ballinabrackey were on the cusp of an impressive debut at this level. However, the 32nd minute dismissal of Danny Quinn seriously undermined their hopes.

St Colmcille's ........ 4-17
Ballinabrackey ...... 2-10

Shortly after Quinn's departure, Liam Stafford levelled matters with an excellent solo score. To their credit, Ballinabrackey hung in until the midpoint of the half and were just three points off the pace at the 47th minute.

From Quinn's dismissal to the end, St Colmcille's outscored Ballinabrackey by 3-11 to 1-3.

With numerical advantage and a strong bench, St Colmcille's upped a gear. They outscored last year's IFC winners by 3-5 to 1-2 after the second water break.

The dynamic James Conlon unhinged the Bracks rearguard. Half-time sub Adam Daly chipped in with 2-2 to be the game's top scorer. By the end the Piltown side had eight different scorers.

Jeff Kavanagh's 52nd minute goal was one of the highlight's of St Colmcille's tally. Graham Reilly and Conlon played supporting roles and made it 2-13 to 1-9.  .

Within seconds Ballinabrackey pounced on slackness in the 'Cille's rearguard leaving David Carroll to net and trimming the deficit to four points. Daly's second goal flatlined lingering hopes of an upset.

Bracks 'keeper Dean Pluck saved brilliantly from Ben Brennan at the expense of a 45 at the hospital end. St Colmcille's 'keeper Andrew Beakey pointed the subsequent award, one of three such scores he registered in the game.

Seamus Curry's 55th minute point was tiring Ballinabrackey's last score. St Colmcille's wrapped up the scoring with Graham Reilly's stoppage time goal.. 

Having leaked two points in the opening eight minutes, matters turned Ballinabrackey's way when Damien Carroll forced the ball over the line, assisted by Chris O'Connor.

The newcomers took their lead to half-time. Some decisions didn't go St Colmcille's way, notably the one that led to the 20th minute dismissal of their manager Mickey Conlon for dissent when Ben Brennan appeared to be forceably fouled close to the stand sideline..

At that stage, The Bracks were 1-5 to 0-3 clear. The sides shared four points before Damien Carroll's fine effort from play left Ballinabrackey 1-7 to 0-6 ahead at the break. 

Within seconds of resumption, Daly's first goal revived St Colmcille's. Though Seamus Curry's pointed 38th minute free restored Ballinabrackey's lead it seemed only a matter of time before the east Meath men took control.

Scorers: St Colmcille's - Adam Daly 2-2 (f); James Conlon 0-5 (2fs); Graham Reilly 1-2; Jeff Kavanagh 1-0; Ben Brennan 0-3 (1f); Andrew Beakey 0-3 (45s); Conor O'Byrne 0-1, Liam Stafford 0-1.

Ballinabrackey - Damien Carroll 1-4 (3fs); Danny Quinn 0-4 (3fs); David Carroll 1-0; Seamus Curry 0-2 (1f).

St Colmcille's - Andrew Beakey; Adam Lynch, Hugo Collins, Tomas O Hoistin; Carl Mullan, Cathal Hilliard (C), Stephen Breen; Conor O'Byrne, Jeff Kavanagh; Liam Stafford, David O'Byrne, Graham Reilly; Ben Brennan, James Conlon, Matthew Breen. Subs - Adam Daly for O'Byrne (ht), Danny McMahon for O Hoistin (42), Godfrey Echoya for Breen (42), Ruairi O'Grady for Kavanagh (55).

Ballinabrackey - Dean Pluck; Adam O'Brien, Nicky Judge, Michael Kearney, Sean Bannon, Derek Flynn, Richie Coffey; Chris O'Connor (C), Eric Clancy; Danny Quinn, Sean Coffey, David Carroll; Seamus Curry, Damien Carroll, Barry Thompson. Subs - Sean Kavanagh for B Thompson (38), Mark Coffey for Clancy (50).

Referee - Kieran Olwell (Moynalty)

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