Gaeil Colmcille laid the foundations for success at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday in the opening half to sustain them against a strong Simonstown rally.

Gaeil Colmcille ....... 1-19
Simonstown .......... 2-11

On the surface, little was at stake with Gaeil Colmcille through to the quarter-finals and Simonstown set for the relegation play-offs.

In terms of building and sustaining momentum, this was an important fixture for both teams and they treated it accordingly.

Seamus Mattimoe's final point ensured Gaeil Colmcille topped the group ahead of Wolfe Tones on score-difference.

Mattimoe was his side's scorer-in-chief with 1-7. His 16th minute goal left them eight clear, 1-7 to 0-2. Brian Hanlon chipped in with 0-4, a mix of placed balls and points from play.

At times Gaeil Colmcille coughed up possession easily, but Lar Wall's men were able to respond positively. Ultimately, it was Gaeil Colmcille's superior fitness that secured their second win of the campaign.

This was most noticeable after prominent attacking wing-back Niall Kane's 52nd minute goal cut Simonstown's deficit to just two points, 1-15 to 2-10.

Points from Phillip Ward and Mattimoe softened the blow for Gaeil Colmcille. Simontown managed just one more point while the Kells men closed the scoring with points from Evan Sheridan and Mattimoe.

Gaeil Colmcille constructed a 1-11 to 1-5 interval lead. A Brian Hanlon free extended the gap to seven within a minute of resumption.

Posting some fine points Simonstown endeavoured to bridge the gap in the time remaining.

Playing towards the old swimming pool end Gaeil Colmcille recovered well from the concession of a point to Padraig McKeever. Brian Hanlon leveled matters before Martin Barrett earned last year's runners-up a lead they took to half-time.

By the first water break Gaeil Colmcille were 0-7 to 0-2 ahead. Brian McGrath broke the sequence of scores against his side with Simonstown's second score.

Seconds into the second quarter Seamus Mattimoe fired to the Simonstown net, assisted by Martin Barrett, to put eight points between the sides, 1-7 to 0-2.

A mini-Simonstown revival included Ben Hoey's 23rd minute goal from a penalty awarded for a foul on Conor Sheridan. That left it 1-8 to 1-3. 

Scorers: Gaeil Colmcille - Seamus Mattimoe 1-7 (0-3fs); Brian Hanlon 0-4 (1f, 1 45); Phillip Ward, Evan Sheridan, Martin Barrett (1 mark) 0-2 each; Fionn Reilly, Ryan Farnham  0-1 each.

Simonstown - Niall Kane 1-2; Josh Carolan 0-4; Ben Hoey 1-0 (pen); Rory Connor, Shane O'Rourke, Conor Sheridan, Padraig McKeever, Brian McGrath 0-1 each. 

Gaeil Colmcille - Justin Carry-Lynch; Jonny Quigley, Paulie Tormay, James Reilly; Conal Courtney, Jordan Muldoon, Seanie Curran; Phillip Ward, Liam Ferguson; Evan Sheridan, Martin Barrett, Fionn Reilly; Seamus Mattimoe, Ryan Farnham, Brian Hanlon. Subs - Adam Donnelly for Muldoon (34), Oisin Reilly for Barrett (38), Aaron Browne for Courtney (53), Danny McGovern for Farnham (58).

Simonstown - Robert Burlingham; Aaron Chincilla, Stephen Moran, Mark Gardiner; Rory O'Connor, Rory Connor, Niall Kane; Sean Conlon, Brian Conlon; Shane O'Rourke, Conor Sheridan, Josh Carolan; Brian McGrath, Padraig McKeever, Ben Hoey. Subs - Sean Tobin (C) for O'Connor (26), Shane Barry for O'Rourke (35), Mark McCabe for Connor (43),

Referee - Keith Sheerin (Drumconrath)

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