On what should be a warm June bank holiday Monday evening, the weather gods had other ideas as they sent wind, rain & artic like chills to Cregmore for the first ever Over 35 Ladies match in both the history of Colemanstown Utd & Galway FA history. And what better way to mark such a monumental occasion than with gloves, scarves, woolly caps & even a small campfire wouldn’t have gone astray to survive the evening. A special shoutout to the brave spectators who came to support… Bernie, Mary B & Cora & promptly refused to leave the warmth of their car. With wipers on and heaters full blast, they eventually bailed altogether and headed off for coffee instead, they’re the real connoisseurs of comfort & common sense! Who knew history could feel so cold on a June evening!
Despite the miserable conditions, the match went ahead; a testament to the bravery (or madness) of the two teams. Cregmore were valiant with just 11 players, faced a bus load of Colemanstown warriors, who rolled into Cregmore, the whole 26 of them, like they were heading to a hen party in disguise!
Colemanstown dominated the early stages with the wind half behind them (or possibly sideways; it was hard to tell). The opener came on 8mins after Anita Murphy, who played like a lady half her age & twice the wisdom, stepped up defensively near halfway & linked beautifully with Shauna Ward, who tucked away a cool finish to etch her name in the history books.
Shauna Ward nearly doubled the lead minutes later following a slick Catherine Curtin pass, but her effort drifted wide, we’ll put that one down to being a victim of the swirling breeze. Ann Marie Walsh then had her first real moment with the spotlight – given that she failed to sing at the U11 boys final on Sunday. Her first shot, goal-bound was snatched away by the wind and flung over the bar. But she made no mistake the second time around, as she buried the ball into the top corner to make it 2-0 with a cracking finish.
Deirdre Finn replaced Nicola Finn 12 mins in as Colemanstown continued to press. While Cregmore pushed forward occasionally, strong defending from Orla McCaffrey who covered more ground than a farming quad bike & still had the energy to correct the ref once or twice; Eleanor Walsh, Anita Murphy & Michelle Harrison snuffed out any real danger. Meanwhile, poor goalkeeper Ruth Dempsey might still be thawing out, as she had virtually nothing to do in the opening half.
Shelly Finnerty made way for Alicia Flannery after 25 mins, adding fresh legs. With the wind now howling in the opposite direction, the 2nd half was a more balanced affair. Cregmore pushed forward bravely, but Colemanstown’s back line held firm. Ruth Dempsey came to life with a stunning save that kept her clean sheet intact & in so doing probably restored circulation to her hands!
The final goal came in fortuitous fashion as a deflection off the Cregmore keeper landed perfectly for Alicia Flannery, who slotted it home to seal a dream 3-0 debut win. Subs Lorraine McGann, Karen Dunne, Mary Rohan, Marian Wilson, Jacinta Brett, Trisha Sullivan & Sandra Schwitalla all made strong contributions as they helped Colemanstown to see out the game with energy & style & without frostbite.
This game was not just a win; it was a warm (well, not literally) welcome to the Over 35s scene & a hilarious, unforgettable night that proves age is just a number especially when you’ve got grit, spirit & maybe a thermos flask of tea on the sideline. Finally, a word for manager Gerry Flannery, lured into the manager’s role with the promise of ‘a bit of craic’ & now caught in the world of tactics, subs lists & Baltic weather too. Tis too late to back out now, Gerry following a win like that, you’re in it for the long haul!. Match report: Martina Donnellan
Final score: Colemanstown Over 35 Ladies 3 – 0 Cregmore