With only two points separating these two teams when they met in July in the earlier rounds of this competition, it was likely that there would not be much between these table-toppers when they clashed again in this final played in sunny Ballinacurra. Given that the score back then was 8-10 to 7-11 it was always likely there would be plenty scores here again.

The game started at a frenetic pace and this was the way it continued all through. Fachtna Kelleher had the first of his five points on the scoreboard early on but soon after our lads were rocked by the first of three first half goals from the boys in blue and yellow. Evan O Leary, did get a goal back for St. Colmcille’s but by half-time Lisgoold had amassed a lead of seven points ; 3-04 to 1-03. The lead could have been greater had goalkeeper Ronán Aherne not pulled off a fantastic save to deflect a certain goal over the crossbar.

Colmcilles had the wind at theirbacks for the second thirty and would have been hoping to make inroads into their lead early on. While Fachtna Kelleher started the second like he did the first with an early point, his side were rocked with the concession of a penalty. This could have put nine between the teams. However the ball was blazed over the bar and incredibly Lisgoold didn’t score again in normal time of the contest. Meantime it seemed to ignite the Colmcille’s revival. Great support play and a steady supply of long ball into the towering two-man full forward line, of Mark Reynolds and Evan O Leary, was causing havoc and O Leary feasted on the supply; he followed up his hat-trick of goals with a sweetly converted point.

Davyn Maher had stormed into the contest in his midfield role, while immediately behind him Alex Sheehan and Dylan Manley were very influential in their half back berths. On the rare occasion that Lisgoold did breach this line, the twin layer of Charlie Horgan and Chris Flynn were able to calmly snuff out the Lisgoold attacks, ably assisted by their corner-men Martin Cotter and Bobby O Donovan. Things were really beginning to tick and the hard-work all over the park paid dividends – Mike Murphy was involved in some superb link play to set up scores and when Tom O Sullivan’s cheeky goal effort finally crossed the line, it looked like Colmcilles were set for victory! It got even better when captain Joe Aitken palmed in a fifth goal and all of a sudden Colcmcilles led by 10 points. This was an incredible turnaround turnaround having trailied by seven points twenty minutes before.

The Varley brothers, Josh and Jake, were introduced as subs. It was great to see Josh back in the fold after a leg operation had him on crutches all summer. However this wasn’t an occasion to be making substitutions likely – it wasn’t going to be easy to get up to the pace of the game as Lisgoold always looked like they could erupt again. Bobby O Donovan did well to snuff out an attack but as the 60 minute mark was reached Colmcilles were noticeably jaded. Lisgoold drove up the centre of the field for a great goal. Charlie Horgan got a strong hand to a thirteen-metre free that was goal-ward bound to deflect it out for a 45 but this didn’t stop Lisgoold and their full forward had the ball in our net again soon after.

St. Colmcille’s steadied however, holding possession well and playing down the clock to see out a hard-earned victory over a gallant Lisgoold side.