Colemanstown ‘A’ Team have struggled in recent weeks putting together a string of under performances and the eagerly awaited clash with 2nd from bottom Tuam Celtic tonight was no different. With little separating the bottom 5-6 teams and 4 teams being relegated, a couple of wins would go a long way in this seasons Premier League table. Niall Rohan & Ollie Crowe’s men travelled to Tuam tonight with plenty of Christmas lights greeting them on route (on Nov 5th ) and for the 3rd time in a row lost 4-2 in front of a sizeable crowd.
Colemanstown had plenty of chances, hit the woodwork 3 times but Tuam were marginally the better side and pressurised Colemanstown for much of the game. Colemanstown had an early chance through a Thady Moran free kick won by Mossy Carr but Tuam’s custodian did well. Niall Gelston was called upon to make a string of super saves, advancing off his line, stretching well & displayed good handling of the ball as he showed little signs of hamstring injury apart from his kick outs. Colemanstown had a good chance on 20mins when they capitalised on a poor Tuam backpass, Thady Moran nipped in but the keeper was quick to advance to make the stop. The hosts opened their account on 31mins from a set-piece – a corner whipped in and a header downwards which bounced past Gelston, Immediately from the kick off, Tuam created another chance as their striker was one-on-one with Gelston but blasted over as Sean Hardiman was hot on his tail to put him off. 2 mins later as Tuam continued to apply pressure, our rearguard were caught napping and a low hard effort was parried by Gelston and the Tuam striker hammered home the rebound past a stranded Gelston to make it 2-0. On 36mins Jayo Finn headed over a Thady Moran free kick from the back post. Tuam Celtic turned the screw just before the break following a run down the flank, delivered into the box and Tuam’s striker slotted home from close range to Gelstons left. Right at the stroke of half time, Mossy Carr threw a lifeline as he chipped the keeper from a Sean Hardiman free at the back. 3-1 at the break.
The 2nd half resumed with Sean Hardiman making his debut in goals as Gelston had to retire through a hamstring injury while young Ryan Noone was introduced up front. The half was only 4mins old when Tuam scored their 4th – an exact replica of their 3rd. A run down the wing saw them cross into the box & their striker finished cleanly. Tom Flan was then introduced to add fresh legs and impetus. Richie Lally’s quickly taken free kick at the back was spread right to Dylan Grady who delivered into the area as Mossy Carr missed the header by inches. If his hair was a couple of inches longer, it might have done the trick!. In the ensuing play Flan’s powerful effort thundered off the crossbar. With 15mins remaining Sean Hardiman’s kick out was flicked on by Tom Flan on to Geordy Kenny whose delivery met the sliding body of Ryan Noone but his effort deflected off the crossbar and over as the crowd on the sideline debated whether the keeper got a hand to it. Colemanstown got 1 back with 5mins to go as Flan’s free kick again ricocheted off the crossbar, Geordy Kenny forced a successive double save while Mossy Carr finally bundled the ball over the line in a crowded box to claim a brace on the night. Both sides held their own for the final few minutes as the game ended 4-2 to the hosts.
On a night when the players & Management go through the post-match feelings & banter, one gets the feeling 3 points are not too far away.
Squad: Niall Gelston, Dylan Grady, Sean Hardiman, Jason Finn, Ethan Lally, Geordan Kenny, Gareth Lally, Richie Lally, Thady Moran, John O’Brien, Mossy Carr, Ryan Noone, Tom Flannery, Ronan Carr.