Gaeil Colmcille 2-12 Oldcastle 1-11

Gaeil Colmcille defended their Division 2 title that was won in 2024 when they over came Oldcastle in a hotly contested game under the new lights in Dungannys Pitch 2.

In a cagey opening 10 minutes and with the Gaeils having the aid of the conditions, neither team could be separated as the sides were level on two points each, an Andrew Gormley free and an Oisin Walsh point from play getting the Kells scores. Gaeil Colmcille got the first green flag after excellent play from the Kells men saw Harry Butler getting a ball squared to him and he made no mistake shooting low with his left boot to give Kells the lead, Butler followed that with a fisted effort to see Kells lead stretch to four points.

Four became Six when Liam Devine used the breeze in his back to point from outside the two point arc and with just under 16 minutes played Kells led 1-05 to 0-02. Both sides traded scores with Butler adding another point which complimented his first half performance. Just as Kells has their purple patch, Oldcastle got theirs as in a five minute spell between the 20th and 25th minute saw Oldcastle get two points in a row and then after overturning the Kells backs they worked the ball up the field and shot to the back of the net beyond Caoimhin Jordan in the Gaeil Colmcille goal to leave just a point between the teams.

As the clock headed for injury time, Oldcastle took the lead for the first time with a two pointer free but that was cancelled out when Liam Devine kicked his second two-pointer of the half, this time from a free to leave Kells 1-08 to 1-07 at the break.

Oldcastle got off to the perfect start and were on level terms when they pointed in the 32nd minute. Gaeil Colmcille Captain John Gormley showed superb leadership and he advanced from his centre half position and collected the ball from brother Andrew and slotted over to restore Kells lead.

There were chances for both sides with Oldcastle hitting the upright but patient build up from Kells ended up with Liam Devine getting in behind the Oldcastle defence and he rocketed the ball to the back of the net. Harry Butler got his third point of the game and once again Kells led by five points. Once again the sides traded scores and this time it was the wing back who got on the scoresheet, in the 2024 final he found the back of the net but this time he had to settle for a point.

There was a fierce battle around the middle with Conor Óg Ferguson and Jack Byrne putting in a tremendous second half showing and Byrne could have wrapped the game up for Kells after good play from Charlie Twomey sent Byrne through on goal but the Oldcastle keeper was equal to the task and kept the Oldcastle in the game. Two points in a row for Oldcastle left a goal between the teams but Twomey all but wrapped things up when he pointed in the 59th minute, As Oldcastle went in search for the win the Kells backs stood strong and Paul Mooney’s whistle sounded to the delight of the large Kells support,

It was a real family affair for the Kells side made up of three sets of twins, The Gormley's John and Andrew, The Sheridan's Oisin and Keelan and the Butler's Harry and Bobby while there was and additional brother for the Gormley's Michael and Butler's Bobby. while Oisin and Tadhg Walsh plus Jack and Luke Byrne were another set of brothers involved in the Kells win adding in the Father and Son duo of Manager Jody and Liam Devine.

Gaeil Colmcille: Caoimhin Jordan, Callum Mitchell, Shane Callaghan, Max Chamberlayne, Dillon Glynn, John Gormley (0-01), Eoghan Flynn (0-01), Conor Óg Ferguson, Jack Byrne, Charlie Twomey (0-01), Oisin Walsh (0-01), Harry Butler (1-03), Andrew Gormley (0-01), Liam Devine (1-04), Jack Butler.

Subs: Luke Byrne, Zach Boshell, Michael Gormley, Tadhg Walsh, Oisin Sheridan, Ryan Campbell, Keelan Sheridan, Fionn Morris, Ross McDonnell, Ruairi Carry, Bobby Butler, Lorcan Bergin, Tiarnan McGovern, Matthew Lynch, Tadhg Reddy, Hugh Farrelly, Rocco Genocky, Frankie McElheron

Oldcastle scorers: Pat Crawley 0-6, Shane Boylan 1-0, Rory Crawley 0-2, Paul Hennessy 0-2, Mark Halpin 0-1

Referee Paul Mooney Syddan

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