St Colmcilles GAA got the new season off to the perfect start by lifting the Fr. O’Hanlon Cup for winning the four-team Hertfordshire Blitz.

The London Colney-based side beat off St Dympnas, St Vincents and the hosts Éire Óg in an event that saw the top two teams from a round robin league format compete in the final.

St Colmcilles got off to a slow start in their first match against St Dympnas but some tough defending meant that they were only a point down at half-time.

St Dympnas kept the pressure on in the second half but the Saints started to get into their stride and goals from Doug Galbraith and Joe Deacy saw them take the lead.

A couple of points saw them secure the result and the team was off to a good start.

Next up was Éire Óg and this time the Saints started the stronger of the two teams and a point from Jason Donnelly and a goal from Connor Taggart saw them into an early lead.

They scored another couple of points and looked comfortable for the win until a well-taken goal made for some nervy moments later on.

A comfortable victory over St Vincents saw them through to the final. Early goals from Donnelly and Galbraith set them on their way with Neil Gallagher popping up with a goal to finish out the game.

That meant that St. Colmcilles would face Éire Óg in the final as they finished with the best points difference over the two other sides.

It was always going to be about who had the legs to kick on and keep going until the final whistle.

St Colmcilles started well but both Aaron O’Byrne and his counterpart in the other goal had to be alert to keep the score close.

The second half, however, was all one way traffic as the Oxford side ran out of steam.

Odhrán Gallagher and Chris Griffin in midfield won everything that came their way and gave the team a great platform to build from.

The Saints made their possession count as they kept the ball well and worked some fine scores.

And Conor Lutrell, Shane Gill, Gavin Walsh and Thomas Maloney all worked hard, up and down the field, to give options to those around them.

It meant St Colmcilles ran away with it and were deserving winners.