Boys U14 Div. 3: Colemanstown 1–3 Corrib Celtic. Colemanstown welcomed Corrib Celtic to a wet & windy Colemanstown on Saturday evening for a 5pm KO, the first outing for this group under the new floodlights. The conditions played a major part in the flow of the game, with Corrib Celtic making the most of a strong breeze at their backs in the first half. They applied sustained pressure & managed to build a 3-0 lead by the interval. After the break, with the wind now favouring Colemanstown, we produced a much more improved performance. Our lads began to move the ball with more confidence, created a number of chances & pushed Corrib Celtic deeper into their own half. The pressure paid off when Oisín Flannery broke through & finished well after latching onto an excellent threaded pass from Oisín Saunders to make it 3-1 & give Colemanstown a deserved reward for their efforts.
Colemanstown continued to press in search of another goal & momentum was firmly in their favour but despite their best efforts & with the lads battling right to the end, time ran out, somewhat prematurely it must be said, before they could close the gap further. It was a spirited 2nd half show with plenty of character shown & lots to build on as the season progresses. Match Report: Ann Forde
U12Boys SFAI Trophy: Castlerea 4 – 1 Colemanstown. Colemanstown started brightly despite facing a stiff breeze & it didn’t take long for the opening goal to arrive. Just 3mins were on the clock when a well delivered corner caused trouble in the Castlerea box & it took a deflection before nestling into the net to make it 1-0 to Colemanstown. For the next 10mins, Colemanstown were excellent as they moved the ball with confidence & linked play together effectively. However, Castlerea found a way back into the game. A defensive mix-up led to the visitors being awarded a penalty, which they converted to level the score at 1-1. The second quarter belonged firmly to Castlerea, who capitalised on their momentum & with the breeze at their backs. Three long-range strikes found the target in quick succession to leave the visitors 4-1 ahead at the break.
The 2nd half saw changes for Colemanstown, with Igor Ziolek & Eugene Kelly slotting into defence & Martin Fleming introduced in midfield. With the wind now in Colemanstown’s favour, they pushed forward & created several opportunities. A tight offside call denied our lads a goal & a strong shout for a penalty was waved away by the referee. Kayden Brett & Charlie Hutchings also joined the action & contributed to an improved team performance all round. Despite the effort & pressure, Colemanstown couldn’t find the finishing touch to reduce the deficit & the game concluded with Castlerea claiming a 4-1 win. This result brings Colemanstown’s SFAI Trophy journey to a close as the focus now turns to the League & Connacht Cup campaigns. Match Report: Peter Kelly
Squad: Avey Mahon, Matthew Kelly, Conor Finnerty, James Flaherty, Oisín Kelly, Cathal Burns, Nathan Cleary, Patrick Collins, James Vignoles, Igor Ziolek, Eugene Kelly, Martin Fleming, Kayden Brett, Charlie Hutchings.
Women’s Championship Colemanstown 1 – 1 Craughwell. On a rain-soaked Saturday evening in Colemanstown, the Ladies side continued their upward journey with a performance full of effort, heart, and unity against Craughwell United. The opening half was tightly contested, neither side able to find a breakthrough. Stand-in goalkeeper Sandra Schwitalla looked composed and confident between the posts, dealing calmly with everything Craughwell sent her way. At the other end, Shauna Ward, Sharon Finn, and captain Lucy Roberts all went close to opening the scoring. A special moment arrived midway through the first half when substitute Sina Schwitalla entered the game at right-back — joining her mother Sandra on the pitch and making history as Colemanstown’s first-ever mother-daughter duo to play together in a competitive fixture.
Craughwell took the lead through an unfortunate own goal from a free kick, but Colemanstown refused to waver. Their perseverance paid off when the industrious Grace Mitchell cut inside and threaded a perfectly weighted pass across goal for Sharon Finn to slot home the equaliser. As the final whistle blew, there was a sense of pride rather than frustration. From a team that began with just four players at its first training session to an ever-growing squad finding its rhythm and identity, Colemanstown Ladies are clearly a team on the rise. Nights like this — under the lights, in the rain, together — show just how far they’ve come. Match Report: Neil Ryan
Girls U12 SFAI trophy Colemanstown 1 – 2 Ballaghadereen ( Roscommon). Colemanstown U12s put in an impressive performance full of heart, teamwork, and quality despite a 2–1 defeat. Colemanstown U12 Girls produced another display brimming with spirit and skill, pushing Ballaghadereen all the way in a tightly fought 2–1 loss. Goalkeeper Emily Tuohy was outstanding early on, keeping the hosts at bay, while at the other end Ella Kavanagh and Holly Mellody led Colemanstown’s attacking charge. The moment of the half came when Méabh Lally’s stunning bicycle kick from a Lucy Burke Hardiman corner was denied only by a superb save.
After Ballaghadereen took a first-half lead, Colemanstown fought back through Faye Ryan, who smashed home Ciara Maybin’s pinpoint pass to level the game. Despite hitting the post three times and pushing until the final whistle, the girls in green were undone by a late strike. Though the result went against them, this was another strong, cohesive performance — one that underlined the team’s progress, belief, and never-say-die attitude. The signs of what’s coming this season are unmistakably bright. Match Report: Neil Ryan
Girls U14 SFAI Cup Round 1: Cregmore/Claregalway vs Colemanstown. Our U14 girls faced a stern test on Sunday as they travelled to take on Premier Division side Cregmore/Claregalway in the opening round of the SFAI Cup. From the outset, it was clear the girls were up against a physically strong & well drilled outfit as they showed their quality throughout the game. Despite the tough challenge, our girls worked hard & showed plenty of spirit, never dropped their heads & continued to compete for every ball. They battled bravely in every area of the pitch even under sustained pressure. However, the strength & experience of the home side told in the end, as Cregmore/Claregalway ran out emphatic winners. Attention now turns back to league action, where the team will look to build on the positives & continue their development. Match Report: Martina Donnellan
U18 Boys Connacht Cup: Rd 1. Colemanstown 4-4 Maree / Oranmore B (M/O won 5–4 on penalties). Colemanstown U18s bowed out of the Connacht Cup in heartbreaking fashion on Sunday after a pulsating 4–4 draw at home, losing 5–4 on penalties to Maree/Oranmore B. The lads started brightly, even against the wind, but it was Maree/Oranmore who struck first after 13 minutes. A quick counter-attack split the Colemanstown defence, and although Sean Cooke saved the initial 1v1 effort, the rebound fell kindly for the striker to finish on the second attempt. 1–0 to M/O.
Colemanstown responded well. On 20 minutes, Jamie Lally switched play beautifully from right to left, finding Tomas “Rogie” Rogerson, who controlled the ball on his chest and struck a half-volley just over the bar, an early sign of Colemanstown’s attacking intent. Despite M/O’s physical presence and dominance in individual duels, Colemanstown grew into the game. After 31 minutes, a neat passage of play between Matthew Keane and Rogerson released full-back Cathal Keane down the left. Showing dazzling footwork that left three M/O players chasing shadows, Cathal drilled a low cross across the goalmouth, which was turned into the net by a retreating M/O defender. 1–1 & a deserved equaliser. Colemanstown, missing a few key starters including captain Adam Doyle, were lifted by the return of Tyler Collins, who settled back nicely alongside Nathan Mannion in defence. Both matched the physicality of M/O with strong challenges, while Joshua McDonnell at right-back showed real grit, never shirking a tackle. The hosts went into halftime level and determined.
No changes were made at the break, with Colemanstown hoping the wind would give them an edge, but, typically, the breeze died down. Two minutes into the half, M/O regained the lead when another long ball found their striker, who rounded Tyler Collins and finished calmly. 2–1 to M/O. Colemanstown pushed back, earning corners and free kicks. Shane Dempsey replaced Ronan Screene after 10 minutes, Screene having worked tirelessly in midfield. Vice captain & Captain on the day Ryan Gavin continued to drive his team forward, but M/O extended their lead to 3–1 midway through the half when their number 11 finished off a low cross across the box.
With 25 minutes left and nothing to lose, management made a bold call, pushing the towering Josh Buckley up top to lead the line and hold play. Dylan King replaced the cramping Tyler Collins, and the gamble soon paid off. Within four minutes, Colemanstown struck twice. First, Rogerson unleashed a thunderous strike from outside the box after a half-clearance, the ball bursting the net and giving the keeper no chance. Moments later, Buckley showed pure determination, powering through a goalmouth scramble and blasting home to make it 3–3!
But the drama wasn’t over. Once again, M/O’s number 11 broke through and restored their lead with seven minutes remaining. 4–3. With time slipping away, Colemanstown threw everything forward. Lally’s persistence won a late corner; Matthew Keane whipped in a pinpoint delivery, and Buckley rose highest, roaring “Josh’s!” as he powered his header into the top corner. 4–4!
No extra time was played, and the game went straight to penalties. Despite brave efforts from Nathan Mannion, Tomas Rogerson, Josh Buckley, Matthew Keane, and Cathal Keane, Colemanstown were edged out 5–4, with the M/O keeper making a superb save to send his side through.
Player of the Match: Josh Buckley – a powerhouse performance. Tireless, fearless, and clinical, leading the line with two massive goals and sheer determination. Match report: Kara Mullins
Squad: Sean Cooke, Joshua McDonnell, Tyler Collins, Nathan Mannion, Cathal Keane, Ryan Gavin, Matthew Keane, Josh Buckley, Tomás Rogerson, Rónán Screene, Jamie Lally, Tommy Nutley, Dylan King, Shane Dempsey, Niall Grady, Shane Quirke. Management: Orla McCaffrey, Damien Mannion & Kara Mullins.