This early evening game was played in bright sunshine in what had been until that point a horribly wet day. Thankfully the rain ceased and the sun shone on a fine surface in Caherlag that showed no ill effects of the yellow weather warning issued earlier in the day.
St. Colmcille’s played with the wind for the first half and it showed tellingly on the scoreboard as they led twelve points to three at half time. However what the scoreboard didn’t record was the numerous wides that Colmcille also recorded. Equally the home side came up short for a number of scoring chances when the wind held up a number of efforts for points – our keeper Adam O Halloran caught four or five alone in that time.
Erin’s Own would have been hoping for a strong start to the second half but it was the away side that had the first big score – Sean Whelan showing deft skill to cheekily lob the advancing keeper and to raise the first green flag.
To be fair Erin’s Own battled gamely for the second period and cut back into the lead. While they pressed hard Joe Dunphy, Aidan Docherty, John Barry and Mark O Keeffe each put in a big shift to deny them the goal they desperately needed. With 5 minutes to goal Billy Ryan slammed home with a ground stroke to rattle the net again and this settled this contest for once and for all. A solid, if not spectacular, win for St. Colmcilles.