Gaeil Fhánada squeeze through against Naomh Columba

Gaeil Fhánada prevailed by two points in a feisty encounter against Naomh Columba in Division 2 at Páirc Uí Shiadhail on Saturday evening. 

Gaeil Fhánada 1-11
Naomh Columba 1-9

The visitors were first out of the blocks, Ronan Gillespie and Eric Carr on the mark in the first five minutes. Gaeil Fhánada struck four on the bounce in the next 10 minutes to turn things in their favour.  Seamie Friel struck twice, as did Mark M Ateer and Ryan McGonigle, all from play. 

The lively Christopher Byrne replied with two points for Naomh Columba to even things for the second time at 0-4 to 0-4. 

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The second quarter was dominated by Gaeil Fhánada as they moved into an 0-8 to 0-5 lead at the break. Eoghan Carr with the score of the game from the touchline, James Kerr and Mark Mc Ateer from play, and a Seamie Friel free for the hosts. Ryan Gillespie hit the Naomh Columba score from a forward mark. 

The second half was a tighter affair, with space at a premium. Ryan McGonigle opened a four-point Gaeil Fhánada lead, but that was soon cut in half as Ryan Gillespie fired two frees in quick succession for Naomh Columba. 

There were several stoppages during the second period which interrupted the rhythm of the game, but Jimmy Coyle popped up at the end of a Gaels attack to fist the ball over the bar midway through the second period to put the hosts 0-10 to 0-7 in front. 

Paddy Carr’s goal extended the Gaels lead to six in the 53rd minute, eventually sliding the ball beyond the Naomh Columba keeper, Pádraig Byrne, after a scrambled defensive effort from Naomh Columba seemed to thwart a couple of initial efforts. 

Naomh Columba, now 1-10 to 0-7 down, needed a victory, and threw everything at the remainder of the game. Gillespie from a free and Declan McGuire from play reduced the deficit to four, while Liam McGrenaghan made a telling interception on the goal line for Gaeil Fhánada as a Naomh Columba goal seemed certain. 

Paddy Carr split the posts for the hosts as the game entered injury time, but all the stoppages ensured there was plenty of time for the visitors to rise again. The most important contribution in added time came from Declan McGuire who forced the ball home from close range after a free was lobbed into the danger zone. 

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The visitors sent two further high balls towards the small parallelogram, but Gaeil Fhánada stood firm and were two point winners when the final whistle sounded. 

Gaeil Fhánada scorers: Paddy Carr 1-1; Seamie Friel 0-3; Mark McAteer and Ryan McGonigle 0-2 each; Jimmy Coyle 0-1
Naomh Columba scorers: Ryan Gillespie 0-4; Declan McGuire 1-1; Christopher Byrne 0-2; Eric Carr and Ronan Gilespie, Eoghan Carr and James Kerr 0-1 each.

Gaeil Fhánada: Shaun Friel; Shaun Kerr, Jimmy Coyle, Odhrán Shiels; Darren McElwaine, Liam McGrenaghan, Eoghan Carr; Ryan McGonigle, Paddy Carr; Brandon McClafferty, Paddy Heraghty, James Kerr; Alan McAteer, Mark McAteer, Seamie Friel. Subs: Bernard McGettigan for Mc Elwaine, Conor Heraghty for James Kerr. 
Naomh Columba: Pádraig Byrne; Barry Carr, Philip Doherty, Pauric Ward; Eric Carr, Philip McNern, Pauric Hegarty; Declan McGuire, Fionn Gallagher; Paul O’ Hare, Christopher Byrne, Ryan Mc Nern; Ryan Gillespie, Oisín McGinley, Ronan Gillespie. Subs: Aaron Doherty, Kevin Mc Nern. 

Referee: Anthony Mc Callig (Naomh Ultan)