Premier Football Championship Division 1, Group B – Round 1. Gaeil Colmcille 4-12 Skryne 1-11

Goals win games and Gaeil Colmcille were ruthless when presented with their goal chances, converting four out of four. Skryne on the other hand managed to convert only one goal from five golden goal scoring opportunities. This was to prove the difference between the teams. 

Gaeil Colmcille got the scoring underway with a point inside the opening minute when their #12 hit a point from the right-hand side, but Skryne got into their stride and points from Frank Carty, Neil Burke and John Morley  looked to have the Taramen in the driving seat, but then Gaeil Colmcille lobbed a ball into the Skryne penalty area where their #12 managed to flick the ball over the head of Cian Donohoe who had raced off the line to challenge for the ball. The ball rebounded off the crossbar and fell kindly for # 12 who palmed the ball to the empty net. Skryne responded well and added another three points, two from Neil Burke and one from Jack O’Donnell, as they continued to press forward in a dominant opening quarter. Skryne were guilty of conceding a few sloppy scores early in the second quarter and this allowed the Kellsmen get a foothold in the game and they drew level on the twentieth minute. Neil Burke and Stephen O’ Brien found the target for Skryne, but Gaeil Colmcille finished the half the stronger with four points in the last five minutes to see them lead at half-time. Gaeil Colmcille 1-07, Skryne 0-08.

Kells carried the momentum they finished with in the first half, forward to the start of the second half when a blistering opening ten minutes saw them hit 3-02 without a reply from Skryne to see them lead by 14 points. It wasn’t all Kells though as Skryne saw some of their own goal chances go a begging. On the fifth minute of the half, Frank Carty attacked forward on the right hand side of the Gaeil Colmcille penalty area before handpassing across the penalty area to Ian Davis who saw his fisted effort hit the post and rebound to safety. A minute later Davis won the ball in the full forward line and found himself one on one with the Gaeil Colmcille keeper. He hit a low hard shot, but it was saved superbly by the Kells keeper. Oisín Keogh pulled a point back for Skryne and then Skryne saw another goal chance go awry when Stephen O’Brien passed a ball over the Gaeil Colmcille full back line where Ian Davis was again lurking with intent. He swung a boot at the ball, but he didn’t get a great connection and the ball went off the side of his boot and away to safety. A minute later Davis got the reward he deserved for his toils up front, when he sent over a superb 45 from the ground. Darren Fox was next to find himself up against the Gaeil Colmcille keeper, but again his shot was saved and pushed away to safety. Skryne pushed forward again in the fourth quarter and finally found a goal when Oisín Keogh rifled the ball to the net with six minutes remaining. He followed this with another point, but Gaeil Colmcille remained nine points ahead with five minutes remaining. With the clock ticking away to an inevitable conclusion, Gaeil Comcille managed to add two injury time points to put a gloss on a good evening’s work for the Kellsmen. Skryne on the other hand will rue their missed chances. Full-time: Gaeil Colmcille 4-12, Skryne 1-11

Skryne – Cian Donohoe; Eoghan Greene, Timmy Lennon, Kristoffer Kinsella; Frank Carty(0-1), Stephen O’Brien(0-1), Tommy Carpenter; Oisín Keogh(1-2), Colm Craigie; Niall Morland, Neil Burke(0-4,4fs), Jack O’Donnell(0-1); Kian Reddy, John Morley(0-1), Mark Swan

Subs used – Ian Davis(0-1, 1 x 45′), Jack Swan, Eoin Smyth, Darren Fox, David McGoldrick

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