On their first day back in football action for the next decade, Colemanstown U14s conjured up a game of pure savagery against Salthill Devon B, very significant opposition in Colemanstown yesterday morning. It was a game that had the Harte family in Colemanstown drawn in opposite directions as committee member Cora Clancy’s nephew lined out at centre back for the opposition. Colemanstown pierced Salthill’s defence with such frequency and brutality as they engineered 7 great goals. The game also saw Tommy Mellody make his first competitive appearance for the club following his 2019 season with Galway Utd U13s.
Colemanstown were two up within 10mins as Tommy Mellody showed his usual trickery, beat three lads, before unleashing a splendid cross to the feet of Jason Rabbitte who back heeled to the net. The first goal hadn’t even been processed in the minds of the players when centre back Luke Williams who had roamed up the field got on the end of Jonah Donnellan’s long delivery from the back and made no mistake to notch his 2nd goal of the season . Jayo Rabbitte had the ball in the net again on 20mins but was adjudged to be offside after Tommy Mellody and Johnny Keane set him up. Mellody marked his comeback when he got on the score sheet as Killian Hughes found Rabbitte who fired across the box to Tommy who made no mistake with a trademark finish on 22mins.
2 mins later a defensive slip up at the back saw Salthill’s striker nip through and finish from close range. Just before the break, another superb delivery from almost his own 18yard box from Donnellan found Mellody again who latched on to the ball perfectly, held his composure and finished to the keeper’s left with a one-on-one effort. Right on the stroke of half time Killian Hughes was denied with a one handed save at full stretch from Salthill’s keeper. Half Time: 4-1
Two mins after the restart a corner from David Walsh was met by Jason Rabbitte who drew a save but Ciarán Keating was perfectly positioned to finish from close range. Meanwhile, Jason Finn & Gareth Lally emptied the bench with the introduction of Ross Lally, Cillian Fahey, Diarmuid Ryan & Cathal Kennedy. Five mins into the 2nd half David Walsh’s free kick from the edge of the box was met by the boot of Tommy Mellody who immediately put his hands to his head as he knew full well he had swiped his effort over the crossbar.
Cilly Fahey did a lot of the hard work which led to No. 6 as he beat 3 defenders before squaring across the box to Rabbitte who claimed his brace. Eoin Keague, Gary Gill & Larry Murrajvos were introduced to the action. Midway through the 2nd half Cilly Fahey made it 7-1 as the ref pointed to the spot after a schemozzle in the box and up stepped Fahey to take the kick, only to see his effort saved but he pounced on the rebound to make certain it rattled the net. With 10mins to go, you’d nearly put your house on Fahey to bag his 2nd as Luke Williams played the ball up the line to Jayo whose diagonal cross found Fahey who rounded 3 defenders but hit the side net with his final effort. Nathan McGuire-Greaney was introduced to the action as Tommy Mellody put Cilly Fahey through but he was off target with the finish. 7-1 it finished to a rampant Colemanstown side as Cian Ruane in goals, Eanna Burke, Luke Williams, Ciaran Keating & Harry Mitchell had a quiet enough afternoon in defence.
Squad: Cian Ruane, Eanna Burke, Ciaran Keating, Harry Mitchell, Tommy Mellody, Johnny Keane, Jonah Donnellan, David Walsh, Jason Rabbitte, Killian Hughes, Cillian Fahey, Diarmuid Ryan, Gary Gill, Larry Murrajvos, Nathan McGuire-Greaney, Ross Lally, Eoin Keague.