Cambridge Parnells overcome Luton-based St Dympna’s during Hertfordshire Championship encounter on Coldham’s Common

Cambridge Parnells got their 2023 Hertfordshire Championship term off to the perfect start with a four-point win over St Dympna’s on Sunday.

The Parnells welcomed their Luton rivals for turned into a feisty encounter, played out under searing heat on Coldham’s Common.

Hotter still though was the performance of full-forward Carl Reilly, who pitched in with four points and a crucial second-half goal that shoots Cambridge to the top of their group and within touching distance of a place in the semi-finals of the area’s premier Gaelic football tournament.

Reilly grabbed the opening score for Cambridge, popping over a simple free but the hosts were almost immediately on the chase as Dympna’s star forward Mark Fee poked home a goal past goalkeeper Diarmuid McGowan.

Cambridge regrouped after this blow to slowly claw their way back into the game. A well-drilled Dympna’s defence did force many turnovers, overloading their backlines and suffocating the Parnells runners, but scores from midfielder Cormac Breen and wing-forwards Conor O’Reilly and Greg McNeill saw the lead change hands.

Tit-for-tat in the opening half, clinical shooting from Dympna’s, particularly from rampaging midfielder Sean McMonagle, saw them edge ahead on the scoreboard despite ceding the majority of territory and possession. A point from centre-back Stephen Cunniffe ensured that Cambridge went into the break just one down – 1-03 to 0-05 – but with a lot of work to do.

With greater numbers and depth on the bench, the home side began to stretch their legs in the second period, exploiting space better and retaking the lead through a pair of scores from the full-forward duo of Reilly and Mick Nelligan.

With the game close, tempers flared and lively Cambridge centre-forward Robbie Fitzpatrick was sin-binned for a late shoulder. It spilled over moments later as Parnells wing-back Mark O’Sullivan was dragged down and the ensuing melee saw referee Frank Dillon produce red cards for Fee and O’Sullivan.

The reduction in numbers would play into Cambridge hands, however, with vast tracts of space opening up as the visitors tired. The key moment then came as a long-range Breen free-kick fell short but Reilly stole in to grab the ball and smash in a goal.

Reilly scored two further frees and was joined on the scoreboard by Finn and debutant Johnny Deeney, who curled over a shot from the left wing. Dympna’s responded with a point of their own on the counter-attack but were being overrun and captain Conor Egan charged through from midfield to fist over the bar and give Cambridge a seven-point advantage with less than 10 minutes to play.

The Luton side threw caution to the wind and were handed a lifeline when a free kick was rifled through a forest of bodies on the Cambridge line and into the net. With McMonagle then adding another point, Dympna’s were just a single goal away from equalising and they bombarded the Parnells area with high balls looking to force a three-pointer.

But despite some nervy moments, the Parnells backline stood firm, marshalled by Cunniffe and full-back Ryan Rodgers, who relieved the pressure before Breen scored the most impressive of insurance points, booming a left-foot shot over from a narrow angle to seal the win.

Cambridge will head to Luton on Sunday September 17 to face St Vincent’s with a spot in the semi-finals up for grabs.