Colemanstown U14As 5 – 0 Kinvara
There wasn’t a cloud in the sky on Saturday evening in Colemanstown for the U14A team’s last league game. In this very tight Division, they knew a win would draw them level at the top, and a guaranteed top two spot, anything less would mean third place at best, and similar for the visiting team. Kinvara started strongly with an attack down the left wing that was intercepted by Conor Walsh and out for a corner. The tall Kinvara midfielder got his head to the cross and Joshua McDonnell in goal made the save with a strong left hand. Excellent work in midfield from Joshua Buckley, Tomas Rogerson and Nathan Mannion led to several Colemanstown attacks, with shots wide of the mark from Daniel Lydon, Ronan Screene and Tomas Rogerson in the first half. Matthew Keane got on the end of a throw in from Alex Kelly and he did lovely work to dribble into the box where he was taken down from behind and the referee blew for a penalty. Tomas Rogerson stepped up to take the penalty and although the keeper dived to the correct side, the penalty was driven perfectly into the bottom corner: 1-0 to Colemanstown.
The back four of Cathal Keane, Conor Walsh, Jamie Burke and Alex Kelly were solid all game with some excellent closing down play, tackles and movement out of defense. Jamie Burke made a super run after winning the ball in defense, all the way up the pitch past several Kinvara players, only to have his shot taken off his feet in the Kinvara box. Kinvara had some well worked moves that were intercepted superbly by the Colemanstown midfield and defense.
The second half started with intent from both teams. Cathal Keane made a lovely run from defense down the left wing, passed it off well to Tomas Rogerson who’s shot from outside the box went straight into the back of the net, 2-0. Again Kinvara went on the attack but Alex Kelly made some lovely tackles, along with Jamie, Conor and Cathal to clear the danger. The Colemanstown lads showed great composure and superb passing to create opportunities all game. The third goal of the game came when Tomas Rogerson’s shot from a free kick outside the box, saw the keeper make a good save but Joshua Buckley pounced on the rebound and made no mistake to hit it into the top of the net. 3-0 at the water break. The lads took on more water and some jaffa cakes to give them energy for the final quarter on a very hot evening. Nathan had a shot on goal that went slightly wide after some lovely work by Matthew Keane down the right wing, Daniel Lydon also had a shot saved by the keeper after a long ball from Conor Walsh. Joshua Buckley dribbled the ball past a couple of defenders in the Kinvara box but was taken down by 2 defenders and another penalty was awarded. Tomas stepped up again and the keeper guessed well again and this time made a lovely save to keep it out of the net.
Ryan Concannon received a good ball inside the box from Matthew Keane, turned and got a lovely shot into the bottom left corner to bring it to 4-0. In the last few minutes of the game Ryan again got a good ball in after some excellent work in midfield and again went for goal, this time to the top right and in it went, 5-0. Kinvara didn’t give up and went on the attack, winning 2 free kicks in the last few minutes from dangerous positions, resulting in 3 shots on goal, however Joshua McDonnell was on his toes and pulled off 3 super saves in the dying minutes to keep a clean sheet. It finished 5-0 in the end after an excellent display of teamwork, passing, lovely technical skills and finishing from the Colemanstown lads. They are now level with Galway Bohs at 27 points each, with Galway Bohs playing next weekend, but a guaranteed first or second place in this division and promotion for next season, well deserved for all their hard work this season. Match report by Orla McCaffrey