Colemanstown U17s made the long journey west once again, this time by bus, to face Division 1 League champions Bearna na Forbacha on a wet, miserable evening in the Div 1/2 League Cup semi-final. Kick-off was at 6:30pm, and while everyone knew this would be a tight battle, nobody could have predicted what was about to unfold.
This Cup was Colemanstown’s last shot at silverware this season – and from the first whistle, it was clear the lads were up for it.
With the wind and rain at their backs, Colemanstown made the dream start, going 2-0 up inside the first seven minutes. First, a handball in the box gave Colemanstown a penalty, and Shane Quirke stepped up to calmly slot the ball into the right side netting. Just moments later, Eibhear Colleran won the ball superbly at left full, fed Quirke on the wing, and his whipped cross was met at the back post by Cathal Keane, who made no mistake. 2-0 and flying.
Bearna’s danger man – who caused problems in the last encounter – met his match this time in Conor Walsh, who was rock solid in every challenge. Keane played his part too, staying close and doubling up when needed.
On the 32nd minute, it got even better. Keane struck again, this time from the right wing. Whether it was a cross or a shot – no one cared – it found the net. 3-0 Colemanstown. A massive lead. But Bearna showed their class and didn’t panic, pulling one back just before the break. Half-time: 3-1.
No changes at the break, and Colemanstown came out strong again. On the 50th minute, the lead extended to 4-1 thanks to a moment of brilliance. Ryan Gavin and Adam Doyle won the ball back in midfield with relentless pressing. Doyle slipped a smart pass in behind for Tomas Rogerson, who flicked it over his head into the path of Quirke. From a tight angle on the left, Quirke finished coolly for his second of the evening.
Bearna responded immediately, punishing a poor clearance. Their striker blasted home from the edge of the box to make it 4-2, and suddenly, the momentum began to shift. Colemanstown dug deep. Stalwart Josh Buckley held the back line and put his head where others wouldn’t put a foot, leading the fight in midfield. Gavin, Doyle, and Matthew Keane battled endlessly in what had become a filthy, physical war of attrition.
On 65 minutes, Bearna pulled another one back from a free kick – a powerful header from their No. 10 left Sean Cooke with no chance. 4-3 and the pressure was well and truly on.
Tired legs and yellow cards meant changes were needed. Jack Muldowney came on for Gavin, Ronan Screene replaced Cathal Keane, and – in a moment to remember – the passionate Nathan Mannion returned to action after 8 weeks out with a fractured tibia, coming on for Collins.
Still, Colemanstown kept believing. They kept working. And when they needed a hero, Quirke answered the call again. Now defending as much as attacking, he was everywhere – making slide tackles one minute, scoring the next. Matthew Keane, now on the wing, slipped Quirke through on goal, and he rifled a low shot past the Bearna keeper to make it 5-3 – and complete his hat-trick.
Bearna, to their credit, never gave up. On 84 minutes, they pulled one back again from a free kick, this time bundled home at the back post. 5-4, and Colemanstown were hanging on. Shane Dempsey replaced Matthew Keane to help shore things up.
Then came the heartbreak. The ref played 8 minutes of added time, and in the dying seconds, another free was floated in. It took a cruel deflection and ended up in the back of the net. 5-5. Devastation. The final whistle went – and we were headed straight to penalties.
But Colemanstown had been preparing for this. They’d practiced penalties for the last month, and it showed. Quirke, Doyle, Buckley, Rogerson – all clinical. Bearna netted their first three, but then Cooke produced a save on their fourth. It all came down to Nathan Mannion. Back from injury. Pressure on. And he slotted it low and right – ice cold. What a return. What a moment for him. And what a moment for his dad Damien, part of the management team.
Colemanstown had done it. A night full of drama, heart, grit, and passion. This was a game not for the faint-hearted – but these lads just don’t know how to give up. They’ve taken down the league champions and now…… It’s all eyes on the Final.
Colemanstown Squad: Sean Cooke, Conor Walsh, Josh Buckley, Tyler Collins, Eibhear Colleran, Cathal Keane, Matthew Keane, Adam Doyle (Cpt), Ryan Gavin, Shane Quirke, Tomas Rogerson, Ronan Screene, Dylan King, Tommy Muldoon, Shane Dempsey, Jack Muldowney, Jamie Lally, Joshua McDonnell, Nathan Mannion, Darren Moran.
Management: Orla McCaffrey, Damien Mannion & Kara Mullins.
Match Report: Kara Mullins. – what a whopping match & equally whopping match report, it felt like a World Cup Final.