Masters denied Double

Newcomers in 2019 to the Roscommon & District Masters League, Colemanstown United who won out the Masters League earlier in the season in fine style; last night took on one of their potent rivals Castlerea Celtic in the Cup final. Both teams were forced into a late venue change from Leecarrow to Glenamaddy due to an issue with pitch lighting. It was a lifeless first half and not exactly a box to box game or edge of the seat stuff as there was little action on goal.

Castlerea scored on 15mins with their first chance of the game as their midfielder weaved through the centre and his defence splitting pass was latched on to by their striker who slotted past the advancing helpless Sayers. Colemanstown had little threats on goal but came closest with a Ronnie Geraghty free kick. Castlerea created a few half chances but Sayers was in top form – one notable save towards the end of the half at the near post when he turned the ball round the post for a corner. 1-0 Half Time.

The second half was more interesting. From the start, Colemanstown came out fast and pressed hard for an equaliser. They had ten men attacking the ball for the last 20mins winning numerous corners but Castlerea were stout in their defending. A low delivery from the right by Quirke was just inches away from meeting any part of the anatomy of Garry O’Grady or Andy Concannon and it might have found the net.  In fact for the last two corners, even keeper Kevin Sayers came up to add to the pressure. Almost at the last kick of the game Ronnie Geraghty’s free kick was met by the head of Cian O’Toole who rattled the crossbar but the ball agonisingly fell into the safety of the keepers hands. The final whistle arrived a bit too soon, the goal might have come but one would have been dependant on the resolute defending to buckle at some point. Our patient masters were left heartbroken in the end especially on losing by the narrowest margin. A Cup win to add to their league title success would have been nice but five cups in one year for the club ain’t that bad.

Win or not, these lads enjoyed the afters, but the after effects was well shaken out of many of them today with the voluntary long shifts they put in, in the club grounds. Well done lads, a 6th Cup was possibly denied by the crossbar but a great season all the same. Final score; Colemanstown 0; Castlerea Celtic 1.

Panel: Kevin Sayers, Eoghan Barrett, Adrian Burke, Ross Sullivan, Alan Walsh, Kenny Duane, Padraig Quirke, Garry O’Grday, Ronnie Geraghty, Gerry Grady, Sean Walsh, Andy Concannon, Ollie Crowe, Gary Broderick, Aiden Corcoran, Tommy Kelly, Declan Curtin.