Naomh Michaél progress past Naomh Columba in Comortas Peile na Gaeltachta

Naomh Michaél eventually got to grips with Naomh Columba in this Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta clash to eventually run out ten-point winners at the Bridge. 

Having kicked into the slight breeze in the first period, the hosts still managed to lead by five at the changeover. And while the third quarter was slow simmering, Naomh Michaél turned the screw down the stretch with a late scoring flurry. 

Early on, both sides found goals just as easy to come by as points as the hosts led 2-2 to 2-1 at the end of the opening quarter. 

Christopher Byrne and Eoghan Kelly, from a close range free, swapped early points while Max Roarty was also on the mark for Naomh Michaél. 

The first of that blitz of three-pointers landed on 11 minutes when Eric Carr teed up Ronan O’Hare who slammed home at the back post. 

And Naomh Columba made it back-to-back goals less than two minutes later as Byrne riffled home with Pauric Ward the provider on this occasion. 

Naomh Michaél then raised their first green flag thanks to Ciaran Kelly while Calvan Murray scrambled home a second after his initial palmed effort came back off the crossbar. 

Colin McFadden and Kevin McNern then traded overs but just before the break, the home side hammered in their third maximum of the half through Ethan Ferry as they eventually exited 3-4 to 2-2 to the good. 

Darragh Cunningham got Brendan Doherty’s side off the mark in positive fashion on the restart, while Carlos O’Reilly fired back for Naomh Michaél. 

Eric Carr and Paul O’Hare narrowed the gap back to three on 46 minutes before Naomh Michaél upped the ante with four on the bounce through Packie O’Neill (free), Roarty, Ethan Ferry and O’Reilly to move out to 3-9. 

James Heaney stemmed the tide momentarily, but with Roarty on the mark again soon, after Naomh Michaél began to row for home. 

Pauric Hegarty dropped the curtain on the visitors’ scoring for the afternoon on 53 minutes and with Roary, twice, O’Reilly and Liam Pól Ferry all registering before the end, it was Daniel McLaughlin and Martin McElhinney’s side that deservingly advanced. 

Naomh Michaél scorers: Ciaran Kelly 1-0; Ethan Ferry 1-1; Calvan Murray 1-0; Eoghan Kelly 0-1,1f; James Heeney 0-1; Colin McFadden 0-2; Carlos O’Reilly 0-3,1f; Packie O’Neill 0-1,1f; Max Roarty 0-4; Liam Pól Ferry 0-1.

Naomh Columba scorers: Ronan O’Hare 1-0; Christopher Byrne 1-1,1f; Kevin McNern 0-1; Darragh Cunningham 0-1; Eric Carr 0-1;  Paul O’Hare 0-1; James Heeney 0-1; Pauric Hegarty 0-1. 

Naomh Michaél: Oisin Cannon; Daire Breen, Liam Pol Ferry, Stephen Doak; Max Roarty, Ciaran Kelly, Michael Cannon; Andy Ward, Colin McFadden; John McFadden, Martin McElhinney, Eoghan Kelly; Ethan Ferry, Packie ONeill, Calvin Murray. 

Subs: Carlos O’Reilly  for C Kelly (20, inj), Callum Finnegan, Paul Johnston and Dean Fleming for O’Neill, Murray and Kelly (all 55). 

Naomh Columba: Colm McElroy; Adrian Breslin, Pauric Ward, Enda Gallagher; James Heeney, Eric Carr, Paurc Hegarty; Padraig Byrne, Rian Hegarty; Darragh Cunningham, Paul O’Hare, Ryan McNern; Ronan O’Hare, Christopher Byrne, Kevin McNern.

Subs: Ronan Gillespie for K McNern (ht), Liam Boyle for P Byrne (38), Eoghan Hegarty for R McNern (55)

Referee: Pat Barrett (Milford)