Davy Walsh & Cian Burke clinch playoff for U12’s with 3-0 win over Merlin Woods

Colemanstown U12’s clinched a playoff against Corrib Celtic with a 3-0 win over Merlin Woods on Thursday evening.  The evening’s heroes were David Walsh with a brace and a sublime header from Cian Burke in his first touch of the ball. Throughout the early part of the evening, Colemanstown struggled to score with efforts from David Walsh, Dylan Murphy & Killian Hughes; the best chance was a header put over by Murphy after a beautiful cross from Killy Hughes. Davy Walsh drew a one handed save from the female keeper who was well on top of her game with some good saves while the resultant corner was whipped in by Walsh and Jonah Donnellan headed over on 10mins. Walsh drew another good save after Niamh Kennedy won the ball in midfield in a move involving Killian Hughes and Donnellan but Davy’s chance was well stopped by the keeper who went down well. The hosts then broke on the counter but fortunately they whipped their effort wide. Straight from the kick out, David Walsh broke up the field passed to Dylan Murphy who drew another great save. The resultant corner was delivered by David while Jonah Donnellan’s glancing header failed to hit the target. On 21 mins Dylan Murphy’s back heel flick failed to stay down as he connected nicely to Killy Hughes’ cross into the box.

The breakthrough was made on 23mins when David Walsh’s corner found Cian Burke whose header rattled the net as he hadn’t even warmed up after his introduction. 2 mins later Killy Hughes did his best to double Colemanstown’s advantage in a move originated at the back from Ross Lally & involving Davy Walsh but again the keeper went down well to make another fine stop. With a minute to go to the break, some combined play from Ross Lally & David Walsh up the right flank found Dylan Murphy in the box who did his best to poke the ball home but it took a deflection off the butt of the post to leave the score 1-0 at the break as the boys had only flickered in the match to this point and needed a good response in the 2nd half. Words were shared on the sideline and Jayo Finn & Gareth Lally’s young men returned to give it their all in the final 30 minutes

3mins after the restart, Killian Hughes was fouled and a smacker of a free kick from Davy Walsh found the net. The game was alive. A minute later Walsh scored again with that superb left foot of his with a low hard drive from a long way out. Fionn Flattery made a great double save on 9mins as the hosts had a good chance to draw one back. 15mins in and Donnellan’s crossfield pass found Sean Connolly who in turn crossed into the box where Ella Carroll wasn’t too far away from finishing it. With 10mins to go, Merlin Woods broke up the field again and only for a vital interception by Cian Burke he ended a glorious chance for the hosts. Sean Connolly missed a good chance with 2mins left after a great passage of play involving Fionn Flattery in goals, Ross Lally, Jonah Donnellan, Paddy Flynn which Connolly got on the end of but missed the opportunity to score a well deserved 4th. 3-0 it finished and enough to earn a play off with Corrib Celtic whom these boys drew with in the 1st round of the league and lost by a goal after extra time in the Divisional Cup so the feeling now is eager anticipation for everybody, players & mentors alike.

In what has been a successful year to date on the football field, it would surely be lovely to add another bit of silverware to the Youth & U13 cups won already and the U15 cup won today without kicking a ball given that Oughterard conceded the game which was unfortunate for the lads as they were denied a final game in their home turf and cup presentation. U12 league playoff and U15 cup presentation have yet to be decided.

Squad: Fionn Flattery, Cathal Kennedy, Shane Kenny, Ross Lally, Niamh Kennedy, Jonah Donnellan, David Walsh, Dylan Murphy, Killian Hughes, Cian Burke, Diarmuid Ryan, Cathal Hynes, Patrick Flynn, Ella Carroll, Sean Connolly.