Our ‘A’ teams first league game of the new season against current Connacht Cup holders Athenry took place on Sunday in Athenry. It produced a composed & lively performance from both teams but the final score of 3-1 to Athenry certainly did not do justice to our lads. This game had all the ingredients for a good opening league encounter and that’s exactly what unfolded. Athenry started the brighter as they controlled possession in the opening 10 minutes. Colemanstown came into the game shortly after with a couple of half chances falling to Kegs and Tom Flan. Athenry then scored against the run of play when they disposed one of our players in the middle of the pitch and played their striker through to score from 8 yards out. It was an uncharacteristic dispossession I might add! Colemanstown pressed for the remaining 15 minutes of the half when Jayo Finn in defence played a quick ball into Flan only for the goalie to make himself big and close the angle with a good save just in the nick of time. The second half resumed in much the same vein, as Colemanstown pressed to make the pressure count and one felt a Colemanstown goal could transform the game. Then came the all decisive turning point. Athenry’s striker took a shot from 25 yards which hit the crossbar and fell directly onto the goal line. The referee adjudged the ball to have crossed the line and awarded a goal to Athenry despite the protests of Colemanstown players and supporters. Looking back on the photos, they may have had a point! Colemanstown pushed on in search of a goal back which left our defence exposed and Athenry’s substitute slotted in the third to all but end the game and with it Colemanstown’s fight. Colemanstown did get a consolation goal when Ronan Geraghty played in Richie Lally who resultantly chipped the goalkeeper with aplomb for a neat finish. The score line doesn’t reflect the game one bit, while the old adage of ‘so near and yet so far’ conspicuously springs to mind. That said they can look forward to Round 2 of the Michael Byrne cup game at home against Loughrea on Sunday at 11am with a quarter final spot at stake. Team: Niall Gelston, Lee Murphy, Jayo Finn, Sean Hardiman, Dermot O’ Halloran, Richie Lally, Gareth Lally, Ray Moran, Kerrill Hardiman, Tomas Flannery and Paddy Mullins.
Subs used: Ronan Geraghty, Damien Wynne, John Lally