Women’s Championship: West Utd 3 – 5 Colemanstown Utd. Colemanstown Ladies secured their first win of the league with an enthralling game as pulsating & captivating as anything before it. West Utd were the visitors to Colemanstown Astro on this occasion as both sides took it in turns to test the other’s limits & nerve. If you blinked, you missed something….. It was as simple as that. A large part of this squad continue the momentum from their triumphant & history-making Over 35s league success, with the team now boasting a lively mix of emerging talent & experienced stalwarts who play purely for the love of the game & the craic!
With O35s keeper Ruth Dempsey absent through injury, young Sina Schwitalla donned the No.1 shirt. Colemanstown faced into a strong breeze in the opening half & harshly enough, found themselves behind 3–0 despite having enjoyed plenty of possession & created loads of chances. Against the run of play, the scoreline was a surprise in itself. Ould timer Catherine Burke-Curtin showed her usual wizardly skills & trademark determination as she clawed a goal back before the interval. This gave Colemanstown the foothold they needed to ensure the game was still alive at half-time.
The 2nd half was a completely different affair. With the wind at their backs Colemanstown completely dominated the play in the 2nd half with the partnership of Catherine Burke-Curtin and 15 year old Grace Mitchell causing problems for the city side. Grace Mitchell scored twice in quick succession to bring the game to 3 -3. Alisha Flannery-Hynes struck to edge Colemanstown in front at 4–3 before Grace Mitchell capped off a dazzling performance as she sealed her hat trick to complete a remarkable turnaround & put the game well beyond the reach of West. The squad is now beginning to knit together nicely, with a nice blend of youth & experience to great effect. Credit also to the fantastic support on such a miserable evening, with a special nod to Mary Finn, who once again claimed her familiar “VIP seat” just as she did throughout the Over 35s Ladies campaign. Match Report: Neil Ryan
Girls U12 Connacht Cup: Strokestown 1 – 2 Colemanstown. Our U12 girls were drawn away to Strokestown in Round 1 of the Connacht Cup. Both sides were quite evenly matched throughout the field with chances falling to both sides but both were unable to capitalise. The real drama was saved for the closing stages. Strokestown broke the deadlock with 5mins remaining, but debutant Meabh Lally popped up with a crucial equaliser in the last minute to force what looked certain to be a penalty shootout. However there was more drama to unfold..… deep into injury time, a perfectly weighted pass from Caoimhe Greene released Lucy Burke-Hardiman, who kept her composure to slot home the winner. Had there been a roof on the place it would have lifted – such was the outpouring of elation! It was a goal that summed up the squads performance & showed the resilience in this bunch. Colemanstown now advance to Round 2 of the Connacht Cup. Special thanks to Strokestown for their very welcome splendid hospitality on the day. Match Report: Neil Ryan
Girls U14 Connacht Cup: Colemanstown 0-5 Fahy Rovers (Mayo). Colemanstown’s U14 girls faced a tough test against Fahy Rovers, who finished second in the Mayo Premier Division. With a large squad available, the focus for the day was on giving every player as much game time as possible, especially the new girls, while also trying out players in different positions. The game started evenly, with Colemanstown matching their opponents in the opening stages. Management took the opportunity to shuffle the lineup, moving regular centre back Laoise Naughton into a striking role and placing Amy Morrissey in central midfield. New signings Chloe Laffey and Caoimhe Cleary were handed big responsibilities as they slotted in at centre back.
After 10 minutes, we made four changes to ensure everyone got a run. The reshuffle unsettled the side, and Fahy Rovers took advantage, racing into a 3–0 lead by half-time. Despite the scoreline, stand-in goalkeeper Niamh Lally impressed with a string of saves to keep Colemanstown in the game. With a very experimental side, Colemanstown battled bravely throughout the second half. Fahy Rovers added two more goals, but Colemanstown’s determination ensured the scoreline remained a respectable 5–0 against one of the top teams in Mayo. The day was about more than just the result. It was a proud occasion as debuts were handed to Aoibhinn Doyne, Caoimhe Cleary, and Jennifer Byrnes, while Chloe Laffey made only her second appearance and produced an excellent performance, arguably Colemanstown’s standout on the day. While the result didn’t go Colemanstown’s way, the experience gained was invaluable, with players tested in new roles and new signings settling in well. The team now move into the Connacht Shield competition, where they will be aiming for a strong run and further progress. Match Report: Garry O’Grady
Squad: Emma Burke, Kate Geary, Julie Holohan, Eimear Flynn, Caoimhe Cleary, Mia Corcoran, Ciara Somers, Sorcha Nic an Iomaire, Amy Morrissey, Jennifer Byrnes, Chloe Laffey, Niamh Lally, Siana O’Grady, Lauren O’Grady, Aoibhinn Doyne, Ava Forde, Lauryn Murphy, Laoise Naughton.