U20 Div 1 FC: Gormley earns share of the spoils for Gaeils

Gaeil Colmcille keeper Caoimhin Jordan

Ratoath 0-14 Gaeil Colmcille 0-14

Gaeil Colmcille and Ratoath played out an entertaining game of football on the Bank Holiday Monday despite the wind conditions causing all sorts of problems for both teams. The draw means both teams need to avoid defeat in Round 3 to advance to the semi-finals.

With the aid of the breeze in the first half, Andrew Gormley's two point effort within the opening 30 seconds split the post and Kells were hoping that this would be the start of a flurry of scores but it didn't play out that way as Ratoath were on in front by the 10th minute with three single pointers in a row.

Ryan Campbell got Kells back on level terms and Eoghan Flynn restored Gaeil Colmcille's lead in the 15th minute. Gaeil Colmcille started to take advantage of the opposition kickouts and Gormley hit two 2-pointers in a row to stretch Kells lead out to five points as the half drew to a close. Flynn grabbed his second point of the half before Ratoath struck over two frees in a row.

Kells had Caoimhin Jordan in the nets to thank for keeping out Ratoath goal chances as Jordan made a couple of fine saves in the first half. Andrew Gormley added another two pointer to see Kells take a 0-11 to 0-05 lead at the break. With the level of the wind it wasn't sure whether six points would be enough.

Gaeil Colmcille managed the start of the second half excellently by holding the ball and got the opening score of the half after holding the ball for over two minutes when Harry Butler pointed. Kells continued to keep Ratoath at bay and Conor Óg Ferguson stretched The Gaeils lead to eight points.

Ratoath finally kicked into action and three points in a row in the 42nd, 45th and 46th minute cut the lead to five points and it could have been closer only for Jordan to make another couple of point blank saves. Two more points for Ratoath left three points between the teams as we moved into the final 10 minutes of the game.

Ratoath struck a two pointer to get to within one point and all the signs pointed to a home win as the Ratoath men were starting to find their range. Credit must be given to the Kells backs who were excellent in the final 8 minutes. As the clock ticked into the second minute of injury time, Ratoaths Adam Ducie sent over a two pointer from close to 55 yards out to give his side the lead at the death.

That looked to be it for Kells, but Jordan got his kickout away and Gaeil Colmcille worked the ball up the pitch and the man of the hour for Kells Andrew Gormley popped over the equaliser as the referee blew up for full time.

Gaeil Colmcille welcome St. Colmcille's to Grangegodden on Saturday knowing avoiding defeat should see them through to a semi final.

Gaeil Colmcille: Caoimhin Jordan, Dillon Glynn, Shane Callaghan, Max Chamberlayne, Michael Gormley, John Gormley, Ross McDonnell, Conor Óg Ferguson (0-01), Jack Byrne, Eoghan Flynn (0-02), Andrew Gormley (0-09), Charlie Twomey, Harry Butler (0-01), Oisin Walsh, Ryan Campbell (0-01).

Subs: Luke Byrne, Keelan Sheridan.