Seasons Greetings as Academy kids close out 2019

Robbie Parker gives a witty rundown on Saturday’s coaches vs. kids game as we close out a great year.
Saturday morning seen our academies and U12 teams come together to wrap up 2019 in our traditional Kids v Coaches game at Colemanstown. A rough count at some stage seen almost 90 kids take on about 15 very worried coaches….who must have thought this was an impossible task. It made all the other Saturday training sessions look straight forward surely!! Some coaches were calling for a 5 minute game duration….others were suggesting “1st goal wins”….throwing in the towel before the whistle even blew for the start!!
But the rules had to be laid out clear to the coaches….”No tea, coffee or home bakes….unless there was mud evident from top to toe!”

There was nothing spared by the kids, that’s one thing for sure as they battled hard to get the upper hand on their mentors. Within minutes, young Dermot Parker had the ball in the net, and the coaches got the feeling that they were in for a tough day at the office!! A brace from young Owen Hillary…and it looked like there was no come back for the coaches nor a stranded Tony Kenny in goals who was left sitting on the crossbar watching a massive John Deere pull out of Alfie Doyle’s road.!! But just when it seemed like a roasting was on the cards, Rob Parker launched a tactical high ball into Fergal Costello……. who is rumoured to be making a comeback…..  .headed home from close range!! The silence was deafening and all of a sudden if seemed like the coaches got a second wind!! Dermot Moore pulled a second back…and then the drama came….where the coaches were awarded a penalty. Before the ref could point to the spot….60 goalkeepers packed the goal….shouting in unison “we will not be moved!!” .
Such is the bond with these kids….the ref just had to allow the penalty to be taken….knowing only too well that there wasn’t a spare inch for the ball to get through!!
3-2 with a minute to go…and some of the kids began hearing that homemade biscuits were being served….allowed the coaches to capitalise on the distraction!! An inswinger from the right met the head of Fergal Costello once more!! 3-3!!! And straight away it could be seen that Barry Forde was recording Fergal’s personal details for the Over 35s….and Zoe Kennedy taking his details for Academy coaching!! These skills don’t go unnoticed in Colemanstown United!!

“Next Goal Wins!!! shouts the ref…….and within seconds Cillian had the ball in the net!! 4-3 to the kids and once again the coaches were muttering….”there is always next year!!!”
Into the clubhouse everyone went for tea, coffee and amazing home bakes….and an opportunity to reflect on a very enjoyable year for the coaches and kids and the younger age group. All the kids went home smiling….with a selection box of course!!! But alas for the coaches, there will be another day…. some day……

And so yesterday saw the close out of one of our most successful & unforgettable years ever in the history of Colemanstown soccer club.  As we  now close the door on 2019, we would like to thank all our players, managers, our numerous sponsors this past year & supporters for being there in 2019. Thanks as always to Frank & Bernie Burke who never leave us in need. Also great thanks to Ballymacward Hall Committee for their generous financial assistance. Sincere thanks to all our coaches who work so hard and always make themselves available for training & matches, to PJ Connell for his humbleness and ever reliance in the day-to-day pitch work, to GRD supervisors Ita Kenny and Kathleen Cannon who also take great pride in the place.

Thanks to Kathleen’s group of trojan lads who in a few weeks carried out a top-to-bottom complete renovation of the old clubhouse after Dermot Finn replaced the roof. The lads are currently working on additional storage which will be completed shortly. Not forgetting Dermot Lydon with his digger & Philip Lally for his neat work in resurfacing the car parks as well as the many volunteers who helped out with cleaning and rejuvenation works prior to the FAI visit in October. Massive thanks also to our club committee who have taken on every task (and there has been quite a few) with a smile and most doable attitude, within every role in the club.

Thanks to all our sponsors, parents and players who always put their hands in their pockets when asked, especially this last while as we bid to complete our development. Thanks to the Galway FA who always strive to work with clubs.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year as we look forward to more fun and enjoyment on the field in 2020. We take a short football break over the Christmas recess and action resumes on Jan 4th. But for now 2019 will live long in the memory for many years to come.